Chess Puzzle #1NYLI — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 998 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f4; bishop e2; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen d4→c5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxc5 — knight d7→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bc5.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp1nbppp/8/3NP3/3p1R2/P6P/1PP1B1P1/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 17

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