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

Rating 1465 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rook a1; knights e5/g3; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/f6; knight d7; pawns b6/b7/c7/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg6 — knight e5→g6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook e8→e2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe2 — knight g3→e2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1ppn2p1/1p3rqp/3pN3/8/P1PP2NP/1P2Q1PK/R7 b - - 0 27

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