Chess Puzzle #1l3Ct — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 731 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, master, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen h4; rook h1; bishop f3; pawns a2/b3/e5. Black: king f8; rook c8; bishop g7; knights c5/f4; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen h4→f4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight c5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight d3→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move is Nd3+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/p4pb1/1p2p3/2n1P3/5n1Q/1P3B2/P7/4K2R w K - 4 34

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