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

Rating 2129 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; bishop c2; knight e8; pawns a2/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c3; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/c4/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be4 — bishop c2→e4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c5→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f3→e4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxg3 — queen c3→g3, captures queen. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: c3 — pawn c4→c3.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Nxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4N2k/p4p1p/1p4p1/2nP4/2p5/2q2PQ1/P1B3PP/6K1 w - - 0 29

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