Chess Puzzle #mFI32 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2553 · Master · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rook f1; bishop c7; knight h4; pawns a2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c2; rook a8; bishop g7; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Na6 — knight b8→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Be5 — bishop c7→e5. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  3. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen c2→d1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Be5.

Position data

FEN: rn5k/p1B2pbp/1p2p3/2p5/7N/6QP/P1q3P1/5R1K b - - 0 27

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