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

Rating 859 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook f1; bishop e2; knights f3/g5; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g4; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  3. Best move: Nxd8 — knight e6→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne6+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/pp1n1pkp/3p2p1/2pPp1N1/2P3bP/1P2QN2/P3B1P1/5RK1 b - - 4 18

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