Chess Puzzle #1za7H — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 957 · Beginner · advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishop b6; knight f6; pawns a5/b2/c2/d3/f2/g5. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks e8/h8; bishop f8; knight f5; pawns b7/c6/e5/f4/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nh4+ — knight f5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight h4→f3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k1rb1r/1p1q4/1Bp2Np1/P3pnP1/5p2/3P1Q2/1PP2PK1/R4R2 w - - 5 25

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