Chess Puzzle #FWckr — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2006 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks d1/e1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen b6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6 — knight d5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen c5→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe8+ — knight f6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
  4. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/pp2b1k1/1q3npp/3NQ3/8/8/PP3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 4 21

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