Chess Puzzle #0MoE0 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 910 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; bishop d2; knight b3; pawns d4/e3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king h7; queen b2; knight c4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ba5 — bishop d2→a5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe3+ — knight c4→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: Nxd1 — knight e3→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move Nxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/5ppk/4p2p/3p4/2nP3P/1N2P1P1/1q1B1PK1/3Q4 w - - 1 42

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