Chess Puzzle #1i8Xv — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1150 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, short, X-ray attack.

Position

White: king g3; queen b3; rooks d1/f1; bishop f4; knight d5; pawns a2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks d8/f8; knight c5; pawns a7/b4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen b3→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight c5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen e3→e4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e2→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The key move is Ne4+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p4pp1/7p/2nN4/1p3B2/1Q4KP/P3q3/3R1R2 w - - 6 29

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