Chess Puzzle #G6GfK — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1559 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; rooks c8/e3; bishop c2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king h7; queen e7; bishop a6; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd6 — knight e4→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook c8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king h7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight g6→e7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/p3q1pk/bp2p2p/3pNp2/3Pn2P/4RP2/PPB3P1/6K1 b - - 0 26

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