Chess Puzzle #B8IB2 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2544 · Master · crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king f3; rook d7; knight e6; pawns c5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g6; rook b2; knight d5; pawns b4/c4/c7/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c4→c3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf8+ — knight e6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king g6→g5).
  3. Best move: h4+ — pawn h2→h4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is Nf8+.

Position data

FEN: 8/2pR2p1/4Npkp/2Pn4/1pp5/5KP1/1r3P1P/8 b - - 0 30

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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