Chess Puzzle #AL4ZK — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2684 · Master · crushing, endgame, fork, master, very long.

Position

White: king g3; knight h5; pawns a2/b4/c3/f6/h4. Black: king b8; rook f5; pawns a7/b6/c6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc7 — king b8→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng7 — knight h5→g7. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f5→f1).
  3. Best move: Kg2 — king g3→g2. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f1→f6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Ne8+ — knight g7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c7→d7).
  5. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e8→f6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, very long. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/p7/1pp2P1p/5r1N/1P5P/2P3K1/P7/8 b - - 3 39

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