Chess Puzzle #SzM98 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2515 · Master · crushing, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks c1/e1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen d7; rooks c8/f8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a5/b5/c4/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d7→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight g5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Qg4 (queen d4→g4).
  3. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g6→h7).
  4. Best move: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/1b1q2p1/4pnk1/pp4N1/2pP4/6Q1/PP3PPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 25

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