Chess Puzzle #0EaF9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1611 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen g6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b6/f5; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb6 — knight d5→b6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/pp3ppp/1b1p2q1/3N1b2/2Bn4/8/PP1Q1PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 2 16

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