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

Rating 1421 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen f5; rooks a8/e8; knights b6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nbxd5 — knight b6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6 — knight b5→d6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf4 (queen f5→f4).
  3. Best move: Nxe8+ — knight d6→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/pp3pkp/1n1p1np1/1NpP1q2/8/5N1P/PP3PP1/R2Q1RK1 b - - 3 18

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