Chess Puzzle #vsx5g — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2235 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks a1/f6; bishop f7; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king e7; rooks b8/h8; bishop d7; knights d4/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g5/h6. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen b5→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6 — knight g8→f6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qa5 (queen d5→a5).
  3. Best move: Nc6 — knight d4→c6.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4nr/pppbkB2/3p1R1p/1Q2p1p1/3nP3/2PPP2P/PP1N2P1/R5K1 w - - 1 16

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