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

Rating 1143 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks f1/g3; bishop b3; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f5. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knights g4/h4; pawns a6/b7/c5/e5/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight d4→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight h4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rfxf3 (rook f1→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd2 — queen d8→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/1p3ppk/p7/2p1pP1p/3NP1nn/1BN3R1/PPPQ4/5RK1 w - - 0 21

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