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

Rating 1139 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knights e4/g3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen c5→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen b3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2bppp/2n2n2/2q1p3/4NB2/1Q2P1N1/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 1 14

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