Chess Puzzle #34ejW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1294 · Intermediate · advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/e2; knight e3; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks d8/e8; bishop e7; knights b4/d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe3 — knight d5→e3, captures knight. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight b4→c2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/ppp1bppp/8/3n4/1n6/1P2N3/PBPPBPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 6 16

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