Chess Puzzle #1uQns — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1471 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/g2; knight d2; pawns a2/c3/c4/d4/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/f6; bishop c8; knights g4/g5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e6/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight g5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh3 (bishop g2→h3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh3 — queen h5→h3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/ppp3pp/3ppr2/5pnq/2PPP1n1/2P3PP/P1QN1PB1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 1 16

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