Chess Puzzle #SDptr — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2744 · Master · advantage, clearance, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen e5; rook f3; knight e6; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks c8/e8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb1+ — queen g6→b1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen b1→h7).
  3. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight e7→c6).
  4. Best move: Qd5 — queen e5→d5.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Kh2.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/pp2n1p1/4N1qp/3PQ3/2P5/1P3R1P/P5P1/7K b - - 4 34

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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