Chess Puzzle #12ZOp — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1010 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e5; knight d2; pawns a2/c2/c4/d3/f2/g3/h5. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/f6; pawns a7/c6/d5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop f6→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen e2→e5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd2 — queen a5→d2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Bxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/p5pp/2p1pb2/q2pB2P/2P5/3P2P1/P1PNQP2/R3K2R w KQ - 1 17

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