Chess Puzzle #1e21P — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 975 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a2; queen f1; rook d1; bishop c4; knight f4; pawns a3/b3/e3/f2/g3. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks c8/f7; bishop d7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight f4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight g6→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ng6+.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/1p1b1r2/p3p2p/4qp2/2B2N2/PP2P1P1/K4P2/3R1Q2 b - - 1 33

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