Chess Puzzle #00XL2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1054 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; knight e2; pawns a2/b4/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen g6; rooks d8/h8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen d2→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp3pp/6q1/3Pnp2/1PP1p3/7P/P2QNPP1/R4RK1 w - - 1 17

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