Chess Puzzle #jGc2b — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1979 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen h5; rooks g1/h1; bishop d3; knights d4/d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/h6; knight c5; pawns a6/b7/d6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd3 — knight c5→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures bishop. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h1→h6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqrk2/1p3pp1/p2p3b/2nNp2Q/3NP3/3B4/PPP5/1K4RR b - - 5 20

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