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

Rating 2202 · Expert · equality, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen f3; rooks e1/g1; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/h4. Black: king h7; queen f5; rooks d8/e8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f4/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne3 — knight g4→e3. Opponent replies Rxe3 (rook e8→e3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e1→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne3.

Position data

FEN: 3rr3/ppp4k/3b1p1p/3P1q2/2P2pNP/5Q2/PP6/K3R1R1 b - - 2 28

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