Chess Puzzle #1M9wH — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1617 · Advanced · equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures bishop. Opponent replies cxb7 (pawn c6→b7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxb7 — bishop c8→b7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short. The key move axb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/1pp1qppp/p1np1n2/1B1Pp3/4P3/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 7

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