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

Rating 1404 · Intermediate · discovered attack, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c4; rook d1; bishops a6/a7; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king c7; queen e7; rook h8; bishops f8/g6; knights c5/g8; pawns b6/c6/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen c4→b4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight c5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d1→d3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen e7→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move is Nd3+.

Position data

FEN: 5bnr/B1k1qpp1/Bpp3bp/2n1p3/2Q1P1P1/2N2N1P/PPP2P2/2KR4 w - - 2 17

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