Chess Puzzle #40lKO — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1830 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knights f5/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c5; pawns a6/b7/d6/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh5 — knight g3→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd3+ — knight c5→d3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen d2→d3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen f6→f5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p4pp/p2p1q2/2n1pN2/7P/3B2N1/PPPQ1PP1/2KR3R w - - 3 16

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.