Chess Puzzle #lxXtm — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1997 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g4; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/f6; knight e2; pawns a3/c2/e5/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights b8/f5; pawns a7/b7/c3/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3 — knight e2→g3. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop f6→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ng3.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp3pp1/4pB1p/q2pPn1P/6Q1/P1p5/2P1NPP1/R3KB1R b KQ - 1 13

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