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

Rating 2001 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rook h7; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/c2/c4/e4/f4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook a8; bishop g4; knight b4; pawns a3/b7/d6/e7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen e3→d4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxa2+ — knight b4→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen a5→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen d4→c3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxc3 — knight a2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Nxa2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p2p2R/3p2p1/q5N1/1nP1PPb1/p1N1Q3/P1P5/2K5 w - - 1 26

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