Chess Puzzle #54gYx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1285 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, intermezzo, pin, short.

Position

White: king d3; rooks e3/g1; knight d7; pawns a2/b3/c4/d4/f3. Black: king g8; rooks f4/f6; knight f5; pawns a7/b6/c6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight f5→e3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f4→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Kxe3 — king d3→e3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, intermezzo, pin, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p2N2pp/1pp2r2/5n2/2PP1r2/1P1KRP2/P7/6R1 b - - 5 38

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