Chess Puzzle #09aae — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1169 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; rooks d1/d2; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; rooks d7/d8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d2→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, endgame, long. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pb1r1p2/1p2p1p1/7p/3N4/2P4P/PP1R1PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 30

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