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

Rating 980 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook b3; knight e5; pawns c7/d4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c8; rook a2; knight g3; pawns d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf1+ — knight g3→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
  3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight f1→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nf1+.

Position data

FEN: 2q5/2P2pkp/4p1p1/3pN3/3P4/1R2QPnP/r5P1/6K1 w - - 1 35

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