Chess Puzzle #XLZeX — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2801 · Master · advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks f1/g3; bishop d2; knights e4/g5; pawns d3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3 — rook g3→h3. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Rh3.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp2b1p1/2n1p1Qp/2pnPpN1/3pNP2/3P2R1/2qB2PP/5RK1 b - - 1 20

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