Chess Puzzle #PEF6Y — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1929 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks b1/e1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; knights e7/f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen h4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f6→e7).
  4. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/1p2npk1/pq2pnpp/3pN3/3P3Q/P1PB4/1P3PP1/1R2R1K1 b - - 3 24

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