Chess Puzzle #ENScP — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2709 · Master · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen h4; rooks e6/e7; knights e5/g4; pawns a7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Ne5 — knight g4→e5.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3rkpp/4r3/2Q1n3/6nq/2N5/PP3PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 3 20

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