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

Rating 1369 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks e3/f1; knight e4; pawns a2/c2/d3/d5/f2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight d4; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Nxe8 — knight f6→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/p5qp/1p2p1p1/2pP4/3nN1PQ/3PR3/P1P2P1P/5RK1 b - - 0 22

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