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

Rating 1216 · Intermediate · discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop d6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e4+ — pawn e5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  3. Best move: exf3+ — pawn e4→f3, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, short. The key move exf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p2q1ppp/1pnb1n2/4p3/8/3P1N1P/PPP1BP2/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 1 10

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