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

Rating 2568 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; rooks g1/h1; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/f2. Black: king g7; queen b4; rooks a5/f8; bishop e7; knight c5; pawns b7/c6/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg5 — knight f3→g5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop e7→g5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h1→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen b4→e1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxe1 — queen e3→e1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxg5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1p2bpk1/2p1p2p/r1nP2p1/1qP5/1P2QN2/P4P2/1K4RR b - - 2 28

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.