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

Rating 2069 · Expert · crushing, double check, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; bishop c3; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook f8; bishop g7; knight d3; pawns a6/b7/c7/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight d3→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, double check, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1ppq2bp/p4p2/3N4/2Q5/2Bn1N2/P5PP/7K b - - 3 26

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