Chess Puzzle #3UCjT — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1087 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/g1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/h3/h5. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks e8/g8; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rdf1 — rook d1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight e4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Nxe2 — knight c3→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nc3+.

Position data

FEN: 1k2r1r1/pp3ppp/1q6/3p3P/3Pn3/3BP2P/PP2Q3/1K1R2R1 w - - 5 21

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