Chess Puzzle #M9oSA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1554 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, advantage, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king f2; rook f4; pawns a3/b3/d5/e5/g2. Black: king e7; rook f8; knight f5; pawns a7/c5/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight f5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: d6+ — pawn d5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  3. Best move: d7+ — pawn d6→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e8→d7, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f4→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move is d6+.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/p3k3/8/2pPPn2/5R1p/PP6/5KP1/8 b - - 4 44

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