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

Rating 1486 · Intermediate · discovered attack, discovered check, endgame, equality, fork, short.

Position

White: king g3; rook d1; knight c5; pawns b3/f3/g2. Black: king e5; rooks a8/b2; pawns a6/b5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight c5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd4 (king e5→d4).
  3. Best move: Nxb2+ — knight d3→b2, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, endgame, equality, fork, short. The key move Nxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/5p2/p5p1/1pN1k3/8/1P3PK1/1r4P1/3R4 b - - 6 36

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