Chess Puzzle #FL0Ow — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1417 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e3; knight e1; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d8/f8; knights d5/e6; pawns a7/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd1 — rook a1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe3+ — knight d5→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd1 — queen d6→d1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd1 (queen c2→d1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxd1 — rook d8→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p5pp/3qnp2/3n4/8/2P1B3/PPQ2PPP/R3NK1R w - - 2 21

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