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

Rating 1892 · Advanced · advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook a1; knights e2/g3; pawns a3/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook e8; bishop b7; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/e4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight d3→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf4 — knight e2→f4. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen g6→g5).
  3. Best move: Qxf2 — queen c2→f2, captures knight. Opponent replies e3 (pawn e4→e3).
  4. Best move: Qf1 — queen f2→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf4.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1b3ppp/p5q1/1p6/4p3/P1Pn2N1/1PQ1NPPP/R5K1 b - - 5 27

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