Chess Puzzle #3lNz1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1266 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f7; knight d4; pawns e3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen b6; knight d5; pawns b4/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe6 — knight d4→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen b6→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen f7→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Nxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/5Qpk/1q2p2p/3n4/1p1N4/4P1PP/5P1K/8 b - - 3 34

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