Chess Puzzle #3SnBx — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1534 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g7; queen h3; rooks a8/f8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f3→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen g5→g4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen h3→g4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3r2/pp2ppkp/3p1np1/6Q1/4P3/2NB1P1q/PPP2P1P/R4RK1 w - - 3 15

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