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

Rating 2499 · Master · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen f6; rook g1; bishop d2; knight h4; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/e4/g5. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; pawns a4/b4/d4/d6/e5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh3 — queen e6→h3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5 — knight h4→f5. Opponent replies Qh2+ (queen h3→h2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf1 — king e2→f1. Opponent replies Qxg1+ (queen h2→g1, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxg1 — king f1→g1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf5.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5p2/3pqQp1/4p1Pp/pp1pP2N/1P1P4/P1PBK3/6R1 b - - 1 34

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