Chess Puzzle #M5T8g — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1504 · Intermediate · crushing, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e2/f2; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/e4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f3/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight e6→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh3 — queen d7→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop e2→f3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen h3→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pppq2b1/3pN2p/3Pn1p1/4P3/2P2p1P/PP2BB2/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 22

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