Chess Puzzle #5s8LZ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1468 · Intermediate · advantage, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks d1/e1; bishop b3; knights c3/d4; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks a8/g8; bishops b7/e7; knight g6; pawns a6/b5/d6/e6/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf4 — knight g6→f4. Opponent replies Qxf7+ (queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rg7 — rook g8→g7.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf4.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/1bq1bp1k/p2pp1np/1p5Q/3NPP2/PBN5/1PP3PP/3RR1K1 w - - 1 20

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