Chess Puzzle #4uey5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1596 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen c3; rooks e1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knight f4; pawns a3/b2/c4/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks d7/e8; bishop g6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg6 — knight f4→g6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight f6→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f2→g1).
  3. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ne4+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pppr1qpp/2n2nb1/8/2PP1N2/P1Q1BP2/1P3KPP/4RB1R w - - 7 17

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