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

Rating 1978 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks g1/g6; bishop e1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/e3/f4/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f7; bishop c7; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh6 — rook g6→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Opponent replies Rxg5 (rook g1→g5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen e7→g5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ng5.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1pb1qrp1/p1p3Rp/2Pp4/3PnP2/4PQ1P/PP2N2K/4B1R1 w - - 10 30

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