Chess Puzzle #NJM0i — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2225 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rooks d3/e1; knight c3; pawns a2/c2/e4/f5/g3/h6. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks d8/f8; knight c8; pawns a7/b5/c6/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc2+ — queen b2→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  3. Best move: Qe3 — queen g5→e3. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen c2→d3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd3 — queen e3→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is Re2.

Position data

FEN: 2nr1rk1/p4p1p/2pp2pP/1p3PQ1/4P3/2NR2P1/PqP4K/4R3 b - - 1 27

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