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

Rating 1063 · Beginner · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks d1/e1; bishop b3; knights c3/f6; pawns a2/b2/e4/f4/g2. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks a8/g7; bishop b7; knights c6/e5; pawns a6/b5/d6/e6/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen g5→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/1b2qpr1/p1nppN2/1p2n1Q1/4PP2/1BN5/PP4P1/3RR1K1 w - - 1 23

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