Chess Puzzle #EsHCJ — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1894 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop c3; knights d2/g5; pawns a2/b2/d3/e3/f2/h2. Black: king e7; queen b6; rooks c8/f7; bishops e6/f8; knight f6; pawns a5/b7/c5/d4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen f4→h4).
  3. Best move: Nxc3+ — knight d5→c3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The key move Nxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2b2/1p2kr2/1q2bn2/p1p3N1/3p1Q2/2BPP3/PP1N1P1P/1K1R3R w - - 0 24

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