Chess Puzzle #FQzQ1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1838 · Advanced · advantage, fork, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen g3; rook d1; bishop f1; knights c3/e5; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f4/f7. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/h2; knight e6; pawns a6/b5/c6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king f8→f7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nxh8+ — knight g6→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qxh2 — queen g3→h2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, master, middlegame. The key move Nxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/2q2Pp1/p1p1n3/1p2N3/4PP2/P1N3Q1/1PP4b/2KR1B2 b kq - 0 20

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