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

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook f1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks f8/h8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rkr/ppq3p1/2p2n2/6N1/3P2Pp/1Q5P/PPP5/5RK1 b - - 6 29

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