Chess Puzzle #MS1HX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1457 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rook d1; bishop g2; knights b3/f4; pawns a2/c4/e3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen c7; rook b8; bishop c8; knights e5/f6; pawns a6/b6/e6/f7/g4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh5+ — knight f4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen b2→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nh5+.

Position data

FEN: 1rb5/2q2pk1/pp2pn1p/4n3/2P2NpP/1N2P1P1/PQ3PB1/3R2K1 b - - 0 26

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