Chess Puzzle #Be9h8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1436 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks f1/g2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks b8/f8; bishop g5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh6 — bishop g5→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/pp3pp1/2n5/3N2b1/3Pq3/1QP5/PP4RP/5R1K b - - 3 24

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