Chess Puzzle #0F53J — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1017 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/g1; bishops e3/f1; knight c3; pawns b2/b3/c2/e4/f3/g5. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knight a5; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb3+ — knight a5→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Nxd2+ — knight b3→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The key move Nxb3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/1bq2pp1/p2p4/np2p1P1/4P3/1PN1BP2/1PPQ4/2KR1BR1 w kq - 1 17

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