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

Rating 1535 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks e1/f1; bishop h2; knight e6; pawns a3/b5/c3/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; rooks a8/e8; bishop c7; knights f5/f6; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/f4/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg6 — king g7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook e8→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe1 — rook f1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/p1b3k1/1p2Nn2/1Ppp1n1p/5p2/P1PP3P/5PPB/4RR1K b - - 6 27

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