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

Rating 1437 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/e1; knights d4/f5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/f6; pawns a7/b6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen g4→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nh6+.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pb1q1ppp/1p3b2/3p1N2/3N2Q1/8/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 8 19

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