Chess Puzzle #X3xNc — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2051 · Expert · equality, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/f1; bishop f7; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/h4. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop h5; knight e3; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies exd5 (pawn e4→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop h5→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Rde1 (rook d1→e1).
  4. Best move: Bxf1 — bishop e2→f1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p2pBkp/pq1p2p1/7b/4PQ1P/2N1n3/PPP1N3/2KR1R2 w - - 1 21

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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