Chess Puzzle #c12mk — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1971 · Advanced · advantage, discovered attack, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/c4; knights b1/h8; pawns a2/b4/c2/d3/d5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rook a8; bishop g4; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf1 — queen d1→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king f2→g3).
  3. Best move: Ne3 — knight c2→e3.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2N/ppp3pp/1q3n2/3Pp3/1PBn2b1/3P4/P1P2KPP/RNBQ3R w q - 1 12

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