Chess Puzzle #1AYBU — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 961 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h4; knights e6/h3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/f3/h2. Black: king e7; queen g6; knights e8/f6; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e5/f4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king e7→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf8+ — knight e6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
  3. Best move: Nxg6 — knight f8→g6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nf8+.

Position data

FEN: 4n3/2p1k3/1p1pNnqp/p2Pp3/2P1Pp1Q/5P1N/PP5P/4K3 b - - 9 34

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