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

Rating 1121 · Beginner · advantage, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king d1; rook b6; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/g3/h5. Black: king g7; rook e5; knight a4; pawns d6/f7/g4. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook b6→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb2+ — knight a4→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king d1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nc4+ — knight b2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd3 (king d2→d3).
  4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight c4→d6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move Nxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pk1/1R1p4/3Pr2P/n5p1/6P1/PPP3B1/3K4 w - - 1 33

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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