Chess Puzzle #2Pgog — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1256 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook e1; knights d6/e6; pawns a2/b3/d5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks g7/h3; bishop b6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/f6/h6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc8 — knight d6→c8, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Nxd2+ — knight f3→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q3k1/pp4rp/1b1NNp1p/3Pn3/8/1P5r/P2Q1PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 27

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