Chess Puzzle #4pS2J — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1034 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks c1/g1; bishop e2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d5/f3/h2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; knights b8/e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/pp1qnppp/2p5/3P4/4N3/5P1P/PP2B2P/2RQ2RK b - - 2 18

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