Chess Puzzle #1rkhl — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1389 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen g3; rooks a1/h1; bishop e5; knights d6/f3; pawns a3/b2/d3/e2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king f8; queen e6; rooks a8/h8; bishop b6; knights d7/g8; pawns a7/c6/d4/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen g3→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen e6→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4knr/p2n1p2/1bpNq2p/4B1p1/3p2P1/P2P1NQP/1P2PPK1/R6R b - - 1 20

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