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

Rating 1970 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/f1; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b3/d4/e5/g2/g4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c2/f7; bishop g7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe6 — queen g6→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf8 — knight d7→f8. Opponent replies Qxf7+ (queen e6→f7, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxf7 — king g8→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf8.

Position data

FEN: 3q2k1/pp1n1rb1/4p1Qp/3pP1p1/3P2P1/1P3N2/P1rN2P1/R4RK1 w - - 1 21

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