Chess Puzzle #3HZYh — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1030 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knights f5/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops a6/e7; knights e5/f6; pawns a5/b4/c5/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxa6 — bishop e2→a6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/4bpp1/b2p1n1p/p1p1nN2/1p2P1P1/4BPN1/PPPQB2P/R3K2R w KQ - 4 16

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