Chess Puzzle #ajVy9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2242 · Expert · crushing, fork, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks b1/f1; knight e4; pawns a2/c4/d5/f3/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e6 — pawn e7→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: Qc3 — queen d3→c3. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pppqpp2/3p2pp/3P1b2/2P1N3/3Q1PP1/P5P1/1R3RK1 b - - 0 18

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