Chess Puzzle #0eaSc — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1198 · Beginner · advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop g6; knights a3/f3; pawns a2/c3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; knight b8; pawns a6/b4/b7/d6/e5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen d3→e4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen f6→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb4r/1p1k2b1/p2p1qBp/3Pp3/1p6/N1PQ1N1P/P4PP1/R3K2R w KQ - 0 17

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