Chess Puzzle #zLK2X — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2438 · Master · advantage, fork, interference, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks e1/g3; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks d8/f8; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/c4/c7/e5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6 — knight c5→e6. Opponent replies Nh5 (knight f6→h5).
  3. Best move: Rg6 — rook g3→g6. Opponent replies Rde8 (rook d8→e8).
  4. Best move: Qxh5 — queen h6→h5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, interference, long, master, middlegame, pin. The key move is Ne6.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/2p2qp1/p4n1Q/1pN1p3/2pP4/6RP/PP4P1/4R2K b - - 0 27

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