Chess Puzzle #14ZCU — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2377 · Expert · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knights c7/g3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks b8/f8; bishop c8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight c7→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h2→h3).
  3. Best move: Nxf2 — knight g4→f2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f8→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Ng4.

Position data

FEN: 1rb2rk1/p1Nn3p/1p1ppnp1/2p5/2P1P2q/3B2N1/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 4 15

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