Chess Puzzle #sVm8W — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1995 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rook e1; bishop g3; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook e8; bishops f5/g7; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c5/f6/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen d7→d6, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd6 — knight e4→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rnk1/pp1q2bp/3Q1p2/2pP1bp1/2P1N3/5NBP/PP3PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 21

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