Chess Puzzle #432ca — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1000 · Beginner · advantage, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen d3→f5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp2bppp/2p2n2/8/3PNB2/3Q1N2/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 12

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