Chess Puzzle #fMj7p — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2078 · Expert · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rook d1; bishops f2/h3; knights d2/g1; pawns a2/c3/d4/e5/f3/g3. Black: king e8; queen h2; rooks a8/h8; bishops a5/c8; knight c6; pawns a7/c7/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop a5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf1 — knight d2→f1. Opponent replies Qh1 (queen h2→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen e3→c3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf1.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/p1pp1ppp/2n1p3/b3P3/3P4/2P1QPPB/P2N1B1q/2KR2N1 b kq - 0 15

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