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

Rating 2183 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook f2; bishop h6; knight g3; pawns a3/c5/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks d8/e8; bishop e6; knight a1; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd1+ — queen d3→d1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf1 — knight g3→f1. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen d1→d4).
  3. Best move: e5 — pawn e4→e5. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen d4→e5, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen g5→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move is Nf1.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/p4pp1/2p1b2B/2P3Q1/4P3/P2q1PN1/5RPP/n5K1 b - - 1 22

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