Chess Puzzle #22uKg — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1786 · Advanced · advantage, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks c2/c3; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen b6; rooks c7/c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight f3→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c3→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c8→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c2→c7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  5. Best move: Nxc1 — knight e2→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/2r2pp1/pqn1p2p/1p1pP3/1P1P4/P1R2N1P/2R2PP1/2Q3K1 w - - 4 28

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