Chess Puzzle #1y9LL — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 930 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c8/d1; bishop b3; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook f8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b7/d4/d6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc8 — queen d8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: 2Rq1rk1/pp3pbp/3pb1p1/3N4/3pP3/1B5P/PP1Q1PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 17

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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