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

Rating 1004 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d4/d5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f4/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d8→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  3. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn1qkb1r/ppp2p2/8/3P3p/3PNp2/4P3/PP3PPP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 12

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