Chess Puzzle #032NX — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 873 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rook a1; bishops b2/c2; pawns a4/c4/d5/e4/g2/h4. Black: king h8; queen d7; bishops e3/h5; knight f6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen d3→e3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng4+ — knight f6→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ng4+.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1ppq1p2/3p1n1p/p2Pp2b/P1P1P2P/3Qb3/1BB3PK/R7 w - - 0 33

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