Chess Puzzle #e8mfs — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2621 · Master · advantage, master, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d3/h3; bishop b3; knight f5; pawns a4/b2/c2/f2/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishop a6; knight e4; pawns a5/b4/c6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight e4→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h3→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d8→d3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh5 — queen e2→h5.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/2q2pp1/b1p4p/p3pNP1/Pp2n3/1B1R3R/1PP1QPP1/2K5 b - - 0 19

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