Chess Puzzle #6UCOm — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1820 · Advanced · equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook f1; bishop a3; knight c3; pawns b3/c5/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook e8; bishops f3/g7; knight d7; pawns f5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen d4→d8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook e8→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3qr1k1/3n1pbp/8/2P1Pp2/3Q1P2/BPN2b2/6PP/5RK1 w - - 0 21

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