Chess Puzzle #IL6KC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1729 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, capturing the defender, deflection, exposed king, fork.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook f1; bishop b1; knights h2/h6; pawns c3/d5/e4/g2/g5. Black: king h8; queen e7; rook b8; bishops a6/f8; knight h7; pawns c4/d6/e5/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight h7→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg5 — queen e3→g5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen e7→g5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight h6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Nxg5 — knight f7→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, capturing the defender, deflection, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3b1k/4qp1n/b2p2pN/3Pp1P1/2p1P3/2P1Q3/6PN/1B3RK1 b - - 3 38

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