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

Rating 2243 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rooks a1/g3; bishop d5; knight g4; pawns a2/f2/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks b2/g8; bishops d4/h5; pawns a7/f7/h6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook b2→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf2 — knight g4→f2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxg3 (rook g8→g3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf3+ (bishop h5→f3, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/p4p1p/7p/3B3b/2Qb1qN1/5PR1/Pr3P1P/R6K b - - 3 27

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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