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

Rating 1599 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f3; knights c3/e3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; knights f4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb5 — queen b3→b5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight f4→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen g5→e3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nh3+.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/ppp2p1k/3p1npp/6q1/2PP1n2/1QN1NB2/PP4PP/3R2KR w - - 11 19

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