Chess Puzzle #Na8xK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2233 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g2; queen c7; rook e1; bishop f4; knight f3; pawns a4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king f7; queen f5; rook g8; bishop c5; knight d7; pawns a7/c6/d5/e6/f6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen f5→e5, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop f4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/p1Qn1k2/2p1pp2/2bp1q1p/P4B1P/5NP1/5PK1/4R3 b - - 3 29

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