Chess Puzzle #62d0L — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1719 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king e1; queen f5; rooks b1/h1; bishop h2; knights d2/g1; pawns a2/b3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f6/g5/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight g1→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne5 — knight d7→e5. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen f5→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen c3→d2, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pp1n4/5p2/3p1Qp1/1b1P3p/1Pq1P2P/P2N1PPB/1R2K1NR w Kkq - 3 17

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