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

Rating 1065 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a3/b5/c2/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen h4; rooks d8/h8; bishop h3; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1pp3pp/p4p2/1P1pn3/7q/P1NB3b/2PQ1PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 20

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