Chess Puzzle #uuISc — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2576 · Master · advantage, attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight f7; pawns a3/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d4; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight d5→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxh5 (knight f6→h5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d8→e6, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp3Np1/2p4p/3n3Q/3b4/P7/1P4PP/R1B2R1K b - - 0 20

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