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

Rating 2207 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; rooks d1/e1; bishop h2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/f3. Black: king h7; queen h4; rooks a8/g8; bishop f2; knight h5; pawns a6/b7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight e4→f2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
  3. Best move: Ne4+ — knight g3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qg4 (queen e6→g4).
  4. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen h4→f2, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, exposed king, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/1p5k/p3Q2p/7n/4N2q/5P2/PP3b1B/3RR2K w - - 0 26

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