Chess Puzzle #3dyi5 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1686 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rook e1; bishops a5/c2; knight b6; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen f3; rook h8; bishop e7; knights e6/f6; pawns a6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf4 — knight e6→f4. Opponent replies Ba4+ (bishop c2→a4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Opponent replies Nd7+ (knight b6→d7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf4.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/4bppp/pN1pnn2/B3p3/3P4/2P2q1P/P1B2P2/1Q2R1K1 w k - 0 29

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