Chess Puzzle #85Stb — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2604 · Master · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/d1; bishops b1/b4; pawns a3/b2/e3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks a8/g8; bishop b7; knight e4; pawns a7/b6/c4/d5/f5/g5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g3 — pawn g2→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg3 — knight e4→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/pb5p/1p5q/3pPpp1/1Bp1nP2/P3P3/1P2Q1PP/1BRR2K1 w - - 0 21

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