Chess Puzzle #4QDOV — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1137 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king h1; rook d8; knight e5; pawns e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f8; rook a5; knight f6; pawns a7/c5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king f8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king e7→e6).
  3. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c6→a5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nc6+.

Position data

FEN: 3R1k2/p4pp1/5n1p/r1p1N3/4P3/5P1P/6P1/7K b - - 4 35

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