Chess Puzzle #8QqCl — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1671 · Advanced · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks d1/e4; bishop f6; knight e7; pawns b4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks a7/c8; bishop g7; knight c4; pawns b5/d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook c8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight e7→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Nxf8 — knight g6→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/r3N1bp/3p1Bp1/1p2p3/1Pn1R2Q/6PP/q4P2/3R2K1 b - - 3 40

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