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

Rating 1120 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks c1/e1; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d5; rook c8; bishops b6/f7; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen d5→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen e6→d7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen g4→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The key move is Nd7+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/2p1nbp1/pb5p/1p1qN3/6Q1/P6P/1P3PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 3 29

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