Chess Puzzle #AEfpM — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1610 · Advanced · crushing, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h6; queen f3; rook f1; bishop d3; knights a8/f6; pawns a2/b2/c4/h2. Black: king f8; queen e5; rook g4; bishop d6; knight e3; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf1 — knight e3→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight f6→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rh4+ (rook g4→h4, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg5 — king h6→g5. Opponent replies Be7+ (bishop d6→e7, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kf5 — king g5→f5.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nd7+.

Position data

FEN: N4k2/pp3p2/2pb1N1K/4q3/2P3r1/3BnQ2/PP5P/5R2 b - - 0 31

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