Chess Puzzle #S1ygD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2230 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook f1; bishops d3/f4; knight e5; pawns a2/f3/g5/g6. Black: king g8; queen a7; rooks c8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight d2; pawns a6/b5/e3/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e2+ — pawn e3→e2, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Nxf3+ (knight d2→f3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qg1+ (queen a7→g1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxg1 — king h2→g1, captures queen. Opponent replies e1=Q+ (pawn e2→e1, promotes to queen, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rf1 — rook f3→f1. Opponent replies Bc5+ (bishop e7→c5, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is Kh2.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/qb2bp1p/p3p1PQ/1p2N1P1/5B2/3BpP2/P2n4/5RK1 b - - 0 27

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