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

Rating 1588 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen c3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knights c6/g6; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f6; bishops c8/e7; pawns a3/b4/e6/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ngxe7+ — knight g6→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d8→e7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight c6→e7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Ngxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/4b1p1/2N1prNp/5p2/1p1P3P/pPQB4/P4PP1/1K1R3R b - - 0 26

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