Chess Puzzle #Ja7nm — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1555 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks d1/f8; bishop c4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king c7; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; bishop d7; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh8 — rook f8→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen e5→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe7 — queen f7→e7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn3Rnr/ppkb1Q2/2p4p/4q1p1/2B5/2N4P/PPP3P1/3R2K1 b - - 5 17

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.