Chess Puzzle #LJM0k — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1536 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h7; rooks a1/h1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/f6/g2. Black: king f7; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3+ — queen g5→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne2 — knight c3→e2. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king f7→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rf1+ — rook h1→f1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ne2.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/ppp2kpQ/4pP2/2n3q1/8/2N1P3/PPP3P1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17

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