Chess Puzzle #983zJ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1495 · Intermediate · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook e1; knights e7/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook a8; bishop c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a6/b7/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
  3. Best move: Ne7 — knight c8→e7.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnb3k1/1pp1N1p1/p4n1p/8/3P4/5N2/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 3 19

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