Chess Puzzle #285kC — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 775 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f6; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight e8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight e8→f6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen e5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1nrk1/pp2qp2/2p1pRpp/4Q3/3PN1P1/3B4/PPP4P/R5K1 b - - 4 20

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