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

Rating 970 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen g3; rooks g1/h1; knights d2/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f4/g2/h4. Black: king h6; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knights g4/h7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e7→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
  3. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf7+.

Position data

FEN: r2qr3/pb2p2n/1p1p3k/2p3Np/3P1PnP/2P1P1Q1/PP1N2P1/2K3RR b - - 0 18

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