Chess Puzzle #a8Nd2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2049 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen e4; rooks d3/g3; bishop d4; knight f3; pawns a2/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c1; rooks c8/d8; bishop c5; knight c4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen c1→c2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g3→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen c2→d3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd3 — queen e4→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/5pp1/p3p3/1pb1P2p/2nBQ2P/3R1NR1/P4PPK/2q5 b - - 5 28

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