Chess Puzzle #KdC6h — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1444 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen b3; rooks c1/f1; bishop g3; knight b5; pawns a4/b2/e5/f4/h4. Black: king c8; queen f7; rooks d8/g4; bishop b6; knight b4; pawns a5/c7/d5/e6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rdg8 — rook d8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Nxf7 — knight d6→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/2p2q2/1b2p3/pN1pP2p/Pn3PrP/1Q4B1/1P4K1/2R2R2 b - - 4 26

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