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

Rating 1501 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, long, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; bishop g2; knight e2; pawns a3/b3/c4/e4/h3. Black: king c8; queen g6; knights d3/e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight e2→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxg6 (knight f4→g6, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxg6 — knight h4→g6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/pp4p1/2p3q1/4n3/2P1P2Q/PP1n3P/4N1B1/6K1 w - - 1 36

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