Chess Puzzle #2Sm5b — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1181 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen e4; rooks c4/g1; knight h3; pawns a5/c3/d5/f2/f3. Black: king f8; queen f6; rooks e7/f4; bishop d6; pawns b7/c5/e5/f7/h4/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight h3→f4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures knight. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e2→d2).
  3. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e7→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move exf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/1p2rp2/3b1q2/P1pPp2p/2R1Qr1p/2P2P1N/4KP2/6R1 w - - 1 36

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