Chess Puzzle #h8zkg — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2221 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king d1; queen e6; rooks b1/g1; knight d7; pawns a4/b2/b3/d3/g5/h5. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks c8/f7; bishop a6; pawns a5/b4/d5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd3 — bishop a6→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: gxf6+ — pawn g5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg6 (bishop d3→g6).
  4. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3N1rpp/b3Qp2/p2p2PP/Pp5q/1P1P4/1P6/1R1K2R1 b - - 0 27

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