Chess Puzzle #2D43G — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1701 · Advanced · crushing, deflection, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen d5; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knight g1; pawns b2/c3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen a4; rooks d8/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e4/f7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen d5→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb4+ — knight c6→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c2→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxb3 — queen a4→b3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nb4+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp3p2/2np3p/3Q4/q3p3/2P1P3/1PK2PPP/3R1BNR w - - 5 21

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