Chess Puzzle #oX4pW — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2116 · Expert · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks d3/f1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e2; bishops d6/e6; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen d8→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg3 — rook d3→g3. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen g5→g3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Rg3.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/pp3p2/2pbb2Q/4N3/3Pn3/3R4/PPP1rPPP/5RK1 b - - 9 18

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