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

Rating 761 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks b1/f1; bishops c1/d3; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops g7/h3; knight e5; pawns a7/c6/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. 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: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1q1ppbp/2pp2p1/4n3/N3P3/1P1B3b/P1PQ1PP1/1RB2RK1 w kq - 0 14

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