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

Rating 957 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; rook d1; knight c4; pawns a3/b3/e3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; rook c2; bishop e5; knight f5; pawns a5/c5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c4→e5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe3+ — knight f5→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  3. Best move: Nxd1 — knight e3→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move Nxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p1p/6p1/p1p1bn2/2N4P/PP2P1P1/2r2PK1/3R4 w - - 0 37

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