Chess Puzzle #fROt9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1998 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks e1/f1; knights c3/g5; pawns a3/b2/d3/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/d6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg3 — bishop d6→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures bishop. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
  3. Best move: Nce4 — knight c3→e4.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move hxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/1bq2pp1/p2bp3/1p1p2N1/8/P1NP2P1/1P2Q2P/4RRK1 b - - 0 22

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