Chess Puzzle #2f97k — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2367 · Expert · clearance, crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f5; rooks a1/e1; bishop g2; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/d5/f2/h3. Black: king b8; queen e7; rooks g8/h8; bishop e5; knights g5/h5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f5→e5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight g5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh4 — queen e7→h4.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 1k4rr/ppp1qp2/8/3PbQnn/8/1N1P3P/PPP2PBK/R3R3 w - - 0 22

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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