Chess Puzzle #9it2Z — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; rook e8; knights c3/f2; pawns b2/b3/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g3; rook a8; bishop c8; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king g8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nfe4+ — knight f2→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king f7→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxg3 — knight e4→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move is Nfe4+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1R1k1/pp4p1/2p4p/3p2n1/8/1PNP2qP/1PP2NP1/5QK1 b - - 5 21

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