Chess Puzzle #0y8GB — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1381 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; rook a1; bishops f4/g2; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/d5/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa5 — knight b3→a5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen e7→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxa5 — queen c5→a5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pppbq1pp/8/n2P1p2/5B2/1N1P3P/PPP3B1/R4QK1 w - - 1 23

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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