Chess Puzzle #3JV39 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1293 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks e1/h1; bishop f1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishop d5; knight d7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rhd8 — rook h8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5+ — knight d4→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
  3. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f5→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf5+.

Position data

FEN: r6r/3nkpp1/p2qp2p/1p1b4/3N1P2/8/PPPQ2PP/2K1RB1R b - - 1 17

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