Chess Puzzle #4FAqr — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1549 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks b1/f1; bishop e3; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; knights d4/f5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen a5→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight g4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Nf3+ (knight d4→f3, gives check).
  4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp3pp1/4p3/q2pPnQ1/3n2N1/4B2P/PP3PP1/1R3RK1 b - - 1 19

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