Chess Puzzle #3yZ2J — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1065 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rook h6; bishops f1/g3; knight c6; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2. Black: king f7; queen b7; rooks b6/h8; bishop g4; pawns c7/d5/f6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh6 — rook h8→h6, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd8+ — knight c6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f7→g7).
  3. Best move: Nxb7 — knight d8→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd8+.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1qp2k2/1rN2p1R/3p4/Q2P2b1/6B1/PP3PP1/4KB2 b - - 0 23

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