Chess Puzzle #HqAJ3 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1681 · Advanced · advantage, intermezzo, long, opening, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f2; queen e3; rooks a1/h1; bishops b3/g5; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg1 — king f2→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg5 — knight e4→g5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen e3→b6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight g5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  4. Best move: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, opening, pin, sacrifice. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp3ppp/1qp5/4p1B1/4n3/1B2QN1P/PPP2KP1/RN5R w - - 0 15

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