Chess Puzzle #HXTZL — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1431 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, opening, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/f7; knights e7/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights e5/g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3 — knight g5→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxh3 — queen h6→h3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, opening, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/ppp1NBpp/3p3q/4n1N1/3QP1n1/7P/PPP2PP1/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 13

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