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

Rating 2534 · Master · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/e3; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knights d4/g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh4 — rook h1→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures bishop. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen d8→h4, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/ppp2ppp/3p4/2b1p3/2BnP1n1/2NPBN2/PPP2PP1/R2QK2R w KQkq - 2 9

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