Chess Puzzle #PYJ2Z — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1997 · Advanced · advanced pawn, advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks d3/f8; bishops b7/e7; pawns a7/b6/e4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook d3→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxe7 — pawn f6→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Re8 (rook f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Qf2 — queen c2→f2. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook e3→f3).
  4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move fxe7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pb2bppp/1p2pP2/4P3/2q1p3/2NrB3/PPQ3PP/R4R1K b - - 0 18

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