Chess Puzzle #tPx14 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1847 · Advanced · advantage, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c2; knight c3; pawns b2/d5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/e8; bishop d6; knights b6/f6; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nbxd5 — knight b6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen c7→c2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxd6 — queen d3→d6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1pq2ppp/pn1b1n2/3P4/5P2/2NQ3P/1PB3P1/R1B2R1K b - - 2 24

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