Chess Puzzle #EI5jq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1449 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/c7; bishop b4; knights e3/f3; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks d8/e8; bishops a8/f6; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/f7/g6/h3. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight e4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e3→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd3 (knight f2→d3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: b2rr1k1/p1R2p2/1p3bp1/3q4/1B1Pn3/1P1QNNPp/P4P1P/2R3K1 b - - 4 30

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