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

Rating 1108 · Beginner · advantage, deflection, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b4/c4/e2/f2/g2/g3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishop f3; knights c5/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight c5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight d3→f2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2nr/ppp1q2p/5p2/2n3p1/1PP5/2Q2bP1/P2NPPP1/R3KB1R w KQ - 0 15

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.