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

Rating 1180 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c4; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f2/f3/g6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen c4→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/ppp1ppbp/6P1/4n3/2Q5/2PP1P2/PP3P2/RNB1K2R w KQ - 1 13

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