Chess Puzzle #l39Uv — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2073 · Expert · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/f8; knights e7/f4; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd7 — knight c5→d7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxh3+ — knight f4→h3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Kxd7 — king c8→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1r2/1ppqn1p1/p3p2p/2N1p3/2B2n2/2PP3Q/PP3PPP/R4RK1 w - - 4 17

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