Chess Puzzle #2zWHq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, fork, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen c3; rook a1; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/f3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; pawns a7/b7/f6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, fork, short. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp4p1/5p2/5N1p/4Pq2/2QP1P2/PP2K3/R7 b - - 0 26

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