Chess Puzzle #bElsq — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1987 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/e3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c4/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen d8→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh5 — knight f4→h5. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen b6→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen h6→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Nh5.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp3p1p/3pb1pQ/4n3/2p2N2/4P2P/PPB3P1/R4RK1 b - - 1 18

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