Chess Puzzle #bLAP4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2262 · Expert · advantage, deflection, intermezzo, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks e1/e3; knight d4; pawns a2/b4/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks e7/e8; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3 — queen e2→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen f7→f3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e3→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Nxf3 — knight d4→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1pp1rq1p/p5p1/3pn3/1P1N4/2P1RP2/P3Q1PP/4R1K1 b - - 1 28

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