Chess Puzzle #12MkW — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1903 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishop c2; knights e4/g3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/g8; bishops d5/d6; knights f6/g6; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight g6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen f3→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nh5+ — knight g3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  4. Best move: Nhxf6 — knight h5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q2r1/p4pk1/1p1bpnnp/2pb4/4N3/2PP1QNP/PPB2PP1/3R1RK1 b - - 1 18

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