Chess Puzzle #8gDI8 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1794 · Advanced · discovered attack, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a3; rooks d4/h1; bishop f3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks b8/f8; knight c5; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb3+ — knight c5→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies axb3 (pawn a2→b3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen b6→d4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Nxb3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/5pp1/1q2p2p/2np4/3R4/Q1N2B1P/PPP2PP1/2K4R w - - 3 18

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