Chess Puzzle #MfaKO — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2508 · Master · attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook e3; bishop a3; pawns b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook d8; knight f6; pawns f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa4 — queen a6→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook e3→e4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qb1+ — queen a2→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop a3→c1).
  4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen b1→e4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move is Ne4.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5ppp/Q4n2/8/1P6/B3R1P1/q4P1P/6K1 w - - 1 30

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