Chess Puzzle #8CFat — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1747 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/e1; bishops a4/c1; knights d1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight e5→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5 — queen d8→a5. Opponent replies Nxf6+ (knight g4→f6, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa5.

Position data

FEN: r2q2kr/1p3pp1/p4b1p/3pN3/B7/3P4/PPP2PPP/R1BNR1K1 w - - 2 17

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