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

Rating 1471 · Intermediate · advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; rook c7; bishops c1/f7; knight b7; pawns a2/b2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king f8; rooks a8/d8; bishop d4; knight a1; pawns a7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd8 — knight b7→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c8→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d8→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king f8→f7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2r1k2/pNR2B1p/6p1/8/3b1P2/6P1/PP4KP/n1B5 b - - 0 21

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