Chess Puzzle #E6dxF — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1473 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks c2/d1; bishop c1; knight d4; pawns a4/b4/c4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen g6; rooks a8/f8; bishop f6; knight e5; pawns a7/b6/d6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen d5→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d4→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen g6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p5pp/1p1p1bq1/3Qn3/PPPN4/5P2/2R3PP/2BR2K1 w - - 1 23

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