Chess Puzzle #43VfC — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1142 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rook d1; bishop a5; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/f1; bishops b4/c8; knights c4/c6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf1 — rook d1→f1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd2+ — knight c4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
  3. Best move: Nxf3 — knight d2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd2+.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/6p1/p1n1p3/Bp1p4/1bnP4/2N2Q2/PPP1NP2/1K1R1r2 w - - 0 19

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