Chess Puzzle #5Vxsa — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1534 · Intermediate · crushing, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rooks d5/f1; bishop e6; pawns b3/c2/f5/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen c7; rook d8; bishop f6; knight e4; pawns b4/c3/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen f2→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight e4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen e3→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxg3 — queen c7→g3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rb5+ (rook d5→b5, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kc7 — king b8→c7.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Ng3+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/2q3p1/4Bb1p/3R1P2/1p2n3/1Pp4P/2P2QP1/5R1K w - - 2 34

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