Chess Puzzle #23SRS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 897 · Beginner · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rook e1; bishop b1; knights c3/g5; pawns a3/b2/c4/d4/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g7; rook a8; bishop c8; knights a6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen h6→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh5 — knight f6→h5, captures queen. Opponent replies Re8+ (rook e1→e8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qg8 — queen g7→g8.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/pp4qp/n1pp1n1Q/5pN1/2PP4/P1N4P/1P3P2/1BK1R3 w - - 1 23

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