Chess Puzzle #3zJwi — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1781 · Advanced · deflection, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen c6; rooks d2/h1; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/f4/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks e2/e8; knight d5; pawns a6/f6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen c6→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc3+ — knight d5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Nxa2+ — knight c3→a2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Nxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/6p1/p1Q2p1p/q2n4/3P1P1P/1PP2NP1/P2Rr3/1K5R w - - 1 31

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.