Chess Puzzle #0NpCm — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1567 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen d4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/d5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights d6/g6; pawns a7/b7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen d4→g7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf5 — knight d6→f5. Opponent replies Qxh8+ (queen g7→h8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxh8 — knight g6→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, short, trapped piece. The key move is Nf5.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/pp1p1ppp/3n2n1/3P4/3Q1P2/2P2N2/P3B1PP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 1 13

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