Chess Puzzle #3o8D1 — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 1011 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops c2/h2; knights c3/e2; pawns a4/b2/d5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops g7/h3; knights e5/h5; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: r2qr3/pp3pbk/3p2pp/2pPn2n/P3P3/2N4b/1PBQNPPB/R4RK1 w - - 0 16

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