Chess Puzzle #4xtuU — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1559 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b4/d7; knight f5; pawns a6/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen d8→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxh4 — queen g4→h4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxh4 (knight f5→h4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1ppb1ppp/p3p3/4Pn2/1bBPN1Q1/4P3/PP4PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 3 12

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