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

Rating 1279 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks c3/f6; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks c8/d8; bishop b5; pawns a5/c6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Nxf7 — knight h6→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nh6+.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/5qpp/2p2R2/pb6/5QN1/2R2P1P/PP4P1/6K1 b - - 0 26

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