Chess Puzzle #3Z75j — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1012 · Beginner · advantage, discovered attack, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/f1; bishops d3/f2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/d8; bishops b7/c5; knight d5; pawns a5/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen e2→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight d5→c3, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc3+.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/1b2qpp1/1p2p2p/p1bnN1P1/5P2/3B4/PPP1QB1P/1K1R1R2 w - - 1 21

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