Chess Puzzle #20xxU — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 951 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; pawns b4/c2/e5/f3/g4/h2. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight d5; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd1 — king e1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight d5→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king d1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxe4+ — knight c3→e4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/p1p2p1p/2p3p1/3nP3/1P2Q1Pq/5P2/2P4P/R1B1KB1R w KQkq - 1 16

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