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

Rating 2027 · Expert · discovered attack, discovered check, equality, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a8/f1; knight c3; pawns b4/c2/d3/e3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook f7; bishop c8; knights e8/f5; pawns b5/c6/d7/e5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe3 — knight f5→e3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxe8+ (rook c8→e8, captures knight, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f1→f7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Nxg4+ — knight e3→g4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: R1b1n1k1/3p1rp1/1qp4p/1p2pn2/1P2P1Q1/2NPP2P/2P3P1/5RK1 w - - 0 19

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