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

Rating 1495 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e3; knights d2/h2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/h5; pawns a7/c6/c7/e4/e5/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight h2→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: exf3+ — pawn e4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d2→f3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen h4→g4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move exf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1p1b1p1/2p2p1p/4p2b/4p2q/2PPBP2/PPQNK2N/R6R w - - 0 20

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