Chess Puzzle #Iq5oz — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1428 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen c4; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c3/e2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e3; rooks b7/h8; bishop a3; knight c6; pawns d7/e6/f7/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen c4→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb4+ — knight c6→b4, gives check. Opponent replies cxb4 (pawn c3→b4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rc7+ — rook b7→c7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move is Nb4+.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/1r1p1p1p/2n1p3/6p1/2Q5/bPP1qN2/P1K1P1PP/3R1B1R w k - 2 18

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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