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

Rating 1617 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rooks c1/f1; knight g4; pawns a3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks b3/b8; bishop f6; pawns a6/a7/d6/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa3 — rook b3→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6 — knight g4→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxh3+ (rook a3→h3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/p3pQ1p/p2p1bp1/8/6N1/Pr5P/1q4P1/2R2R1K b - - 1 29

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