Chess Puzzle #MZMj5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2397 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen f7; rook d1; bishop e3; knight h5; pawns a3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen b2; rook e8; bishops c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc3 — bishop f6→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg7 — knight h5→g7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxg7 (bishop c3→g7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bd4 — bishop e3→d4. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b2→d4, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Nxg7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/pp3Qpk/2b2b1p/5p1N/8/P3B1PP/1q3P1K/3R4 b - - 3 36

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