Chess Puzzle #Hmep4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1422 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b4; rooks a1/h1; bishop b5; knight b3; pawns a5/b2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks c6/h8; bishop d7; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/f6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight e5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Nxb4 — knight d3→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd3+.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/1pqb1p1p/p1r2pp1/PB2n3/1Q2P3/1NP5/1P3PPP/R3K2R w KQk - 0 17

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