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

Rating 1439 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g3; rooks a1/h1; knight b5; pawns a4/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight g8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc7+ — knight b5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
  3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc7+.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/pp2qppp/4p3/1N1p4/P7/2P3Q1/5PPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 2 15

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