Chess Puzzle #ALGPK — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1556 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, capturing the defender, deflection, fork, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c6; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen h6→g5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight f4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxg5 — knight h3→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, capturing the defender, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp3p1p/2bp2pQ/2p1p3/4PnP1/2NP1N1P/PPP2P2/R4RK1 w - - 1 14

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