Chess Puzzle #12QeS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1221 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e2; rooks a1/d1; bishop b5; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b6/c8; knight c6; pawns a7/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5+ — knight d6→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
  3. Best move: Nxh6 — knight f5→h6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf5+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/p2p1ppp/1bnNp2q/1B6/5P2/6P1/PP2Q2P/R2R1K2 b kq - 6 20

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