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

Rating 1204 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/e1; knight g4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook a8; bishops b6/e4; knight f6; pawns a7/b5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight g4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e5→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p4pp1/1b3nqp/1p2Q3/4b1N1/2P4P/PP3PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 3 30

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