Chess Puzzle #BfvN9 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1434 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen e2; rooks e1/h1; bishop f1; knight b3; pawns a2/c2/e7/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen e2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng4+ — knight f6→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f2→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1 — queen c3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move is Ng4+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/pp2Pp1p/5np1/8/5P2/1Nq5/P1P1QKPP/4RB1R w - - 3 17

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