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

Rating 2292 · Expert · attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rook f1; bishop g3; knight b4; pawns a3/c3/d5/e3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rook d8; knight b3; pawns a4/b7/e4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen c4→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen h3→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nd2+ — knight b3→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/1p4p1/7p/3P4/pNQ1p3/PnP1P1Bq/7P/5RK1 w - - 0 33

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