Chess Puzzle #QX1U8 — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2275 · Expert · defensive move, equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops b3/c1; knight e2; pawns a2/c2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/g4; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxg4 (knight f6→g4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: g3 — pawn g2→g3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, opening, short. The key move hxg4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/pp2bppp/2p2n2/4p3/4P1b1/1BPP3P/P1P1NPP1/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 11

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