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

Rating 1354 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks f1/f4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks c2/e7; knight e5; pawns b5/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: R4f2 — rook f4→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4rppp/3p2q1/1p1Pn3/3QNR2/7P/PPr3P1/5RK1 w - - 4 27

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