Chess Puzzle #1UNgx — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1259 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/f1; pawns a3/b2/c3/f3/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks d4/h8; bishop f8; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/f5/g5/h3. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen f2→d4, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5 — bishop f8→c5. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen d4→c5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen e5→c5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/3p4/p3p3/1p2qpp1/3r4/P1P2PPp/1P3Q1P/R4RK1 w k - 0 23

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