Chess Puzzle #3CLdd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1065 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d4; rook f1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; pawns a6/c7/d6/e4/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1q2r1k/2p5/p2p3p/3N2p1/3Qp3/6P1/PP3PKP/5R2 b - - 0 26

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