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

Rating 1128 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks f1/g3; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks c8/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Nxf5 — knight h6→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nh6+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppp2ppp/2n5/4pq2/2Q3N1/2P3RP/PP3PP1/5RK1 b - - 5 18

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