Chess Puzzle #8CZEv — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1404 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen d2; rook c3; knights d4/f6; pawns a3/b4/c5/e3/g5/h4. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks e7/e8; knight g3; pawns a7/b5/c6/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight g3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
  3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight e4→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne4+.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/p2qrpkp/2p2Np1/1pPp2P1/1P1N3P/P1R1P1n1/3Q1K2/8 w - - 2 38

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