Chess Puzzle #cvm62 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2021 · Expert · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks b3/h1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/c2/e4/f2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishops d2/g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg6 — queen f6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh4 — knight f3→h4. Opponent replies Bf3+ (bishop g4→f3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf1 — king g2→f1. Opponent replies Bxe2+ (bishop f3→e2, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxe2 — queen d1→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Nh4.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/ppp3p1/3p1q1p/4p3/1P2P1b1/PR3N2/2PbBPK1/3Q3R b - - 1 21

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