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

Rating 1596 · Intermediate · capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/e1; bishop f4; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b2/c6/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knights c5/f6; pawns a7/b6/d6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies exd5 (pawn e4→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen g4→f4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p3bpp1/1pPp1n1p/2n5/3NPBq1/2N5/PPQ2PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 1 18

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.