Chess Puzzle #KhXlC — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2627 · Master · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks d1/e1; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/g6; bishop g4; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c4/c7/d4/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen d8→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh4 — knight f3→h4. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen d5→h5).
  3. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight h4→g6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1k2/ppp2p1p/2n3r1/8/2ppNQb1/5N2/PPP2PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 7 16

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