Chess Puzzle #nEs2H — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2191 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook f1; bishops d3/h6; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; bishop a6; knight h5; pawns a7/c6/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd3 — bishop a6→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Ng3 — knight e2→g3. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen a5→d2).
  4. Best move: Bxd2 — bishop h6→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p4p1p/b1pp2pB/q3p2n/4P3/1P1B1Q2/P1P1N1PP/5R1K b - - 3 20

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