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

Rating 2102 · Expert · advantage, attraction, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights e2/f3; pawns a2/b2/c5/e5/f2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks d8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be3 — bishop c1→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen h5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king g2→f3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight c6→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king f3→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/ppp1b1pp/2n5/2PpP2q/4nP2/3Q1NP1/PP2NPKP/R1B2R2 w - - 1 17

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