Chess Puzzle #35N4s — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1106 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f3; bishop e3; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c6/e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b4/c5/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen e2→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/4b3/p1b1pn1p/2p3P1/1p2P1q1/1P2BR2/P1PNQ1P1/R5K1 b - - 0 21

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