Chess Puzzle #dLM4E — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2497 · Master · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks g3/g4; knight f4; pawns a3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/f8; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/f5/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6 — knight d7→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxg5+ (rook g4→g5, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxg5+ (rook g3→g5, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kf7 — king g8→f7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move Nxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p2nq3/1p5p/4Ppp1/3P1NR1/P5R1/3Q2PP/7K w - f6 0 27

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