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

Rating 1514 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook a1; bishop d3; knight e2; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rook a8; bishop b7; knight d5; pawns a5/b6/d7/e6/g5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ne3+ — knight d5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
  4. Best move: Nxc2 — knight e3→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4qk1/1b1p2p1/1p2p3/p2nP1p1/3P4/P2B4/1PQ1N1PP/R5K1 w - - 0 20

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