Chess Puzzle #1DqsA — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1381 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c4/f4; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/h3; knights c6/g5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight g5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight h3→f4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/ppp1bpp1/2np3p/6n1/2BPPB2/5N1b/PP1N1PP1/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 12

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