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

Rating 1960 · Advanced · crushing, double check, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook f8; bishop c5; knights e5/g5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh3 — knight g5→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Nf2+ — knight h3→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
  4. Best move: Qh3+ — queen h4→h3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, double check, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxh3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp3p2/2pp4/2b1n1n1/3PP2q/1BP4P/PP4P1/R2Q1R1K w - - 1 22

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.