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

Rating 1153 · Beginner · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks e1/g3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; knight f4; pawns a6/b5/c6/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f8→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h4→f6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2q3pp/p1p1pp2/1p6/4Nn1Q/6R1/PPP2PPP/4R1K1 b - - 3 21

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