Chess Puzzle #0qo6T — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f4; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c7; rooks d7/h8; bishop f8; knights b4/g8; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen d3→c3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxa2+ — knight b4→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Nxc3+ — knight a2→c3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxa2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5bnr/1pkr2pp/p2p4/2p1N3/1n3B2/3Q4/PPP2PPP/2KR3R w - - 1 17

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.