Chess Puzzle #Az2NM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1593 · Intermediate · crushing, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight a8; pawns a3/b4/d3/d5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook f8; bishop h3; knight f4; pawns a5/b6/d6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen e7→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Qg4 (queen d1→g4).
  3. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight f4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Qxg4 — queen g5→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: N4rk1/4qppp/1p1p4/p2P4/1P2Pn2/P2P3b/1B3PP1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 19

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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