Chess Puzzle #1ccV5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 816 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook d1; bishop e2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook a8; bishops b7/e7; pawns a6/b6/c5/e4/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen e5→e7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen e7→d8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1b2bp2/pp4p1/2pNq2p/2P1p3/4P2P/PP1QBPP1/3R2K1 b - - 1 28

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