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

Rating 1022 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; bishop d1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rook f8; bishop f3; knight g5; pawns a6/c4/c6/d5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight g5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Nxf2 — knight h3→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Nh3+.

Position data

FEN: 1q3rk1/6pp/p1p2p2/3p2n1/2pP4/2P1Pb2/PP3QPP/3B1RK1 w - - 0 26

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