Chess Puzzle #40Qkd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1176 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e8; rook d1; knights c4/g3; pawns a5/b4/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook f2; bishop d4; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh5+ — knight g3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight h5→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nh5+.

Position data

FEN: 4Q1k1/1pp5/p1n4p/P3p3/1PNb1q2/3P2NP/5rP1/3R3K b - - 2 33

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