Chess Puzzle #19WZb — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1234 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen c3; rook e2; bishop b2; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks e4/f8; bishop a7; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen c3→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies R8e6 (rook e8→e6).
  4. Best move: Qh8+ — queen f6→h8, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/bppq2pp/p2p1p2/3N4/2P1rP2/1PQ1P2P/PB2R1PK/8 b - - 0 26

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