Chess Puzzle #d9Mzd — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2200 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, double check, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops b5/h4; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen g6; rooks a8/h8; bishops e7/f5; knights c6/e4; pawns a4/b4/c7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook d1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd2+ — knight e4→d2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Nb3+ — knight d2→b3, gives check. Opponent replies axb3 (pawn a2→b3, captures knight).
  4. Best move: axb3+ — pawn a4→b3, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, double check, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Nxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/2pkbpp1/2n1p1qp/1B3b2/pp1PnP1B/4PN2/PP1NQ1PP/1K1R3R w - - 2 17

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