Chess Puzzle #3aX7P — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1372 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c5/e4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop g2→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e7→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d3→e4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2qppp/8/2p5/3np3/3P2PP/PPPQ1PB1/R4RK1 w - - 0 15

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