Chess Puzzle #AEAxP — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1561 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop f4; knights c7/e2; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  3. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight d4→e2, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pbN1bpp1/1pn1p2p/8/3PqB2/P7/1P2NPPP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 2 16

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