Chess Puzzle #N8X1I — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2661 · Master · advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks d1/f1; bishop e1; knights d2/g4; pawns a3/c3/e4/f5/h3. Black: king f7; queen d3; rooks c8/f8; bishops c4/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen d3→c2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne3 — knight g4→e3. Opponent replies Bxf1 (bishop c4→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  4. Best move: Nxc2 — knight e3→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Ne3.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/pp2bkp1/2n2p2/2p1pP2/2b1P1N1/P1Pq3P/3N2Q1/3RBRK1 b - - 5 25

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