Chess Puzzle #ONOC5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2148 · Expert · equality, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen b1; rooks e1/f2; knight d2; pawns c4/e4/g2. Black: king e8; queen f8; rooks a2/b8; bishop b3; pawns c5/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh6+ — queen f8→h6, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kg1 — king h2→g1. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook a2→d2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qc1 — queen b1→c1.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move is Kg1.

Position data

FEN: 1r2kq2/5p2/3p2p1/2p5/2P1P3/1b6/r2N1RPK/1Q2R3 b - - 5 33

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