Chess Puzzle #YjbK8 — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2438 · Master · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop d2; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks h5/h8; bishop f6; knight h3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e7/f7/g4/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2+ — knight h3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures knight. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h4→g3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nxh5 — knight f4→h5, captures rook. Opponent replies gxf2 (pawn g3→f2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Ng3 — knight h5→g3. Opponent replies Bh4 (bishop f6→h4).
  5. Best move: Kg2 — king h1→g2. Opponent replies Bxg3 (bishop h4→g3, captures knight).
  6. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move Rxf2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/pp1qpp2/2p2b2/2Pp3r/3P1Npp/4P1Pn/PPQB1P1P/R4R1K b - - 5 26

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