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

Rating 2441 · Master · advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, opening.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knights b3/g5; pawns a3/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f6; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c8; knights c6/e7; pawns a5/b7/d4/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg6 — king f6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4 — queen f3→g4. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
  3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g6→f7).
  4. Best move: Nxd8+ — knight e6→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, opening. The key move Nxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/1p2n1p1/1bn1pk2/p2p2N1/3p4/PN3Q2/1PP2PPP/R1B1R1K1 b - - 1 15

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