Chess Puzzle #1ZEF3 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 818 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook d5; bishop g2; pawns a4/b4/c3/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook e8; knight e5; pawns a5/b6/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf1 — bishop g2→f1. 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, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2q3pp/1p3p2/p2Rn3/PP2P3/2P3P1/3Q2BP/6K1 w - - 0 37

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