Chess Puzzle #BMIjU — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2441 · Master · attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; knights c3/c5; pawns g3/h2. Black: king g6; queen a5; knight c4; pawns b5/e5/f5/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a5→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  3. Best move: Qa8 — queen a1→a8. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen f2→f3).
  4. Best move: Qxd5 — queen a8→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen f3→d5, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Ne3+ — knight c4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king g2→h3).
  6. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qa1+.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p2/6kp/qpN1pp2/2n5/2N3P1/5Q1P/6K1 w - - 0 38

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