Chess Puzzle #28ISn — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1048 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook e5; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c7; rook d8; knight f6; pawns a7/b5/c4/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight h6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f7→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/p1q2ppp/2p2n1N/1p2R3/2p5/5Q1P/PP3PP1/6K1 b - - 1 26

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