Chess Puzzle #6gQCT — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1445 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook f1; bishop e2; knights c3/g4; pawns a4/b5/c2/d5/e4/h5. Black: king g8; queen c5; rook a8; bishops d7/f6; knight d6; pawns a6/b6/c4/e5/g5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight g4→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/3b2p1/pp1n1b1p/1PqPp1pP/P1p1P1N1/2N2Q2/2P1B3/5R1K b - - 1 31

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