Chess Puzzle #cm7d2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2193 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; bishop a6; knight a5; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen f4; rook g7; bishop c1; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook g7→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight a5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b8→c7).
  3. Best move: Ne5+ — knight c6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Nc5 (knight d7→c5).
  4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen c2→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move is Nc6+.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/p2n2r1/Bp2p3/N2p4/3P1q2/7P/PPQ3P1/2b4K b - - 3 31

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