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

Rating 932 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/d1; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks b8/c8; knight e5; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen d3→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 1rr3k1/p4ppp/3qp3/3pn3/8/1PNQP1P1/P4P1P/2RR2K1 w - - 1 22

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