Chess Puzzle #etiRJ — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2313 · Expert · advantage, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c2/g3; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c5/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knights a5/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nac6 — knight a5→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen e4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Nxg5+ — knight f3→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qh5+ — queen h7→h5, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Nxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp1n1b1/4p2p/n1P3p1/3PQ3/1P3NBP/P1B2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17

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