Chess Puzzle #4Fjnm — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks g1/h1; bishop e2; knights b3/c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/h5/h6. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishops e6/e7; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight e5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop e2→d3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen c7→f4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/1pq1bp1k/p3b1pP/3pn2P/4PQ2/1NN5/PPP1B3/2K3RR w - - 0 21

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