Chess Puzzle #1AZ9w — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1128 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a8; rooks a1/h1; bishop e3; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen g4; rook h8; bishops e6/f8; knights e4/e5; pawns a7/c7/d6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight g1→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen g4→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: Q4b1r/p1p2kpp/3pb3/4n3/4n1q1/4B1P1/PPP2P1P/RN2K1NR w KQ - 1 11

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