Chess Puzzle #0A3xr — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1009 · Beginner · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c2; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a5/b5/c5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be4 — bishop b7→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight g4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen d3→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1b3pp1/4pn1p/ppp5/3P2N1/3QP1P1/PPB2PP1/R4RK1 b - - 1 17

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