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

Rating 1441 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops b4/d3; knight g5; pawns b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b8; rooks a8/h8; bishop e6; knights d7/f6; pawns c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxb4+ — queen b8→b4, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxb4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rq2k2r/3n1ppp/2p1bn2/3p2N1/1B1P4/3B4/1PP1QPPP/2KR3R w kq - 3 16

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