Chess Puzzle #D9W20 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2070 · Expert · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen b3; rooks e1/h4; bishop f1; knights d2/d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2. Black: king c8; queen g3; rooks d8/h8; bishop g4; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh1 — rook h4→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Opponent replies Ne4 (knight d2→e4).
  3. Best move: Nxd3+ — knight f4→d3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop f1→d3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxd3 — queen g3→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp3p1/5p2/3n3p/6bR/1QPN2q1/PP1N2P1/2K1RB2 w - - 0 18

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