Chess Puzzle #1E0L4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1257 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops d3/f4; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d6; rooks a8/g8; bishops c8/f8; knight d4; pawns a6/b4/c7/e6/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd6 — bishop f4→d6, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kbr1/2p2p1p/p2qp3/5p2/1p1n1B2/1P1B1N2/P1PQ1PPP/R4RK1 w q - 0 17

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

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