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

Rating 1974 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king f4; rook b8; knight c6; pawns a4/c3/g5/h4. Black: king h7; rook e3; knight d1; pawns a6/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook e3→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Opponent replies Rc7 (rook c3→c7).
  3. Best move: Rf8 — rook b8→f8.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Ne5.

Position data

FEN: 1R6/5ppk/p1N3p1/6P1/P4K1P/2P1r3/8/3n4 b - - 5 39

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