Chess Puzzle #oI9wq — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2766 · Master · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen c6; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f3; knight e5; pawns a2/c4/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen b2; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights b7/d5; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight b7→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rhb1 — rook h1→b1. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b2→d4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen d4→e5, captures knight, gives check).
  4. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxc6 (knight a5→c6, captures queen).
  5. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Rhb1.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b1r/pnp3pp/1pQ1p3/3nNp2/2PP1P2/5B2/Pq1BK1PP/R6R b - - 3 20

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