Chess Puzzle #M5O3s — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1871 · Advanced · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; knights b5/f3; pawns a3/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight b5→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen e4→f3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxd6 — queen d8→d6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp3ppp/3b4/1Np1n3/4Q3/P3PN2/1P3PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 4 15

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