Chess Puzzle #aflHX — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f3; bishop c1; knight e5; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight b8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh3 — rook f3→h3. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
3. Best move: Ng4 — knight e5→g4. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop e7→g5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop c1→g5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rh3.

Position data

FEN: rn2qrk1/pp2bppp/4p3/3pN1PQ/3P4/2P2R2/P1P4P/R1B3K1 b - - 7 16

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.