Chess Puzzle #0COZ0 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2335 · Expert · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g3; queen f5; rook a8; bishops d2/e2; knight b3; pawns b6/c3/d4. Black: king c8; queen d7; rook h8; knights b8/f1; pawns b7/c6/d5/f6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king g3→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nh2+ — knight f1→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king g4→f4).
  3. Best move: Rh4+ — rook h8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king f4→g3).
  4. Best move: Qxf5 — queen d7→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Nh2+.

Position data

FEN: Rnk4r/1p1q4/1Pp2p2/3p1Q2/3P4/1NP3K1/3BB3/5n2 w - - 0 27

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