Chess Puzzle #kXc37 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1970 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen a4; rook a1; bishop d2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f4. Black: king f8; queen g3; rook h8; bishop d6; knight f5; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh4 — knight f5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd7 — queen a4→d7. Opponent replies Qg2+ (queen g3→g2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Ke1 — king f1→e1. Opponent replies Nf3+ (knight h4→f3, gives check).
  4. Best move: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd7.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/p4ppp/3bp3/3pNn2/Q2P1P2/6q1/PP1B4/R4K2 b - - 5 22

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