Chess Puzzle #45NaD — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1404 · Intermediate · equality, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a4/h1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns a5/c2/d2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight e4; pawns a7/c6/d4/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d3 — pawn d2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen d1→d2).
  3. Best move: Nxa4 — knight c3→a4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, opening, short. The key move is Nc3.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/p4ppp/2p5/P3p3/R2pn3/5N1P/2PPBPP1/2BQK2R w Kkq - 0 13

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