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

Rating 799 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e4; rooks d1/h1; knight d6; pawns a3/b2/e5/f6/g2/h3. Black: king d8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen e4→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb3+ — knight c5→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight b3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nb3+.

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/pp1q1p2/2pN1Pp1/2n1P2p/3pQ3/P6P/1P4P1/2KR3R w - - 0 26

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