Chess Puzzle #2ZVNb — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1392 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop a3; knights c5/f3; pawns a4/c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c4; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/e7; pawns a5/b6/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight f3→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd3 (queen c2→d3).
  3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen c4→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/4npp1/1pn1p1p1/p1NpP3/P1qP4/B1P2N2/2Q2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 17

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