Chess Puzzle #2M3ea — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 985 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks d2/e1; knight g3; pawns a3/b4/c3/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen g6; rooks d6/d7; bishop a8; pawns a7/c6/d4/e6/f5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen g6→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh5+ — knight g3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Nxf6 — knight h5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nh5+.

Position data

FEN: b7/p2r2k1/2prp1qp/5pp1/QP1p4/P1P3N1/3R1PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 32

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