Chess Puzzle #xkJqN — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2466 · Master · crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, pin, very long.

Position

White: king h1; rooks c6/e1; knight e2; pawns a5/b4/e5/f4/h2. Black: king h8; rooks d2/g8; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nf2+ — knight e4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
  3. Best move: Nd3 — knight f2→d3. Opponent replies Rd6 (rook c6→d6).
  4. Best move: Nxe1 — knight d3→e1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d6→d2, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e1→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
  6. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, pin, very long. The key move is Nf2+.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/7p/p1R5/Pp2P3/1P2nP2/8/3rN2P/4R2K w - - 7 40

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