Chess Puzzle #Ozhh3 — Master, Black to move, opening

Rating 2659 · Master · advantage, intermezzo, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/g1; bishops c1/h5; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e4/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knights c5/f4; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e5/f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight g5→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ncd3 — knight c5→d3. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c1→e3).
  3. Best move: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Ncd3.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r1k/1pp3bp/3p4/p1nPppNB/2P1Pn2/2N5/PP3P1P/R1BQ2RK w - - 6 17

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