Chess Puzzle #E0lc5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1416 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight d5; pawns a3/b4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks d8/f8; bishop b6; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/e5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb6 — knight d5→b6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d8→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp4pp/1b6/3Npp2/1P1nP2q/P2QB3/5PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 18

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