Chess Puzzle #32d44 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1335 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen d2; rook a1; bishop g2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/e4/g4/h3. Black: king h7; queen f8; rook b8; bishop d7; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1 — queen f8→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf1 (bishop g2→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r3q2/pp1b3k/3p2pp/2pNp3/2PnP1P1/3P3P/PP1Q2BK/R7 w - - 0 21

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