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

Rating 2350 · Expert · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks a1/h3; bishop d2; knight d5; pawns a2/c2/e4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight c4; pawns a7/c6/d6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd2 — knight c4→d2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qg5 — queen h4→g5.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p3ppb1/2pp2p1/q2N1P1p/2n1P2Q/7R/P1PB2PP/R6K b - - 1 20

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