Chess Puzzle #2IADi — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 866 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/e1; bishop b3; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight f4; pawns a7/b5/c6/e5/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen g4→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight f4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Nxg5 — knight h3→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p4pb1/2p3p1/1pq1p2p/4PnQ1/1BP1N1PP/PP3P2/R3R1K1 w - - 0 20

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