Chess Puzzle #5x3Yi — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c3/e5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b3→c4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight g5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nf2+ — knight h3→f2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nh3+.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4p1/6qp/3pPpn1/2p5/1PP2P2/P2N2PP/R2QRBK1 w - - 1 18

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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