Chess Puzzle #CAu8S — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1557 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knights c7/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knights b8/g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3 — queen f2→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nf2 — knight g4→f2.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/ppN2p1p/2p1b1p1/4p3/4P1nP/5Q2/PPP1NqP1/1K1R1B1R w - - 0 17

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