Chess Puzzle #Hn2eE — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1549 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook a1; bishop g2; knight f3; pawns a4/b3/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook e8; bishop b5; knight c1; pawns a6/b7/d4/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb3 — knight c1→b3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen d2→d1).
  3. Best move: Nxa1 — knight b3→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3qr1k1/1p3p1p/p5p1/1b2p3/P2pP3/1P3NPP/3Q1PB1/R1n3K1 w - - 0 30

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