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

Rating 1422 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight b1; pawns a2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook f8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen d2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen b2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
  3. Best move: Ba6+ — bishop c8→a6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc1+.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/p1pp1ppp/2p2n2/4P3/8/8/PqPQ1PPP/RN2KB1R w KQ - 2 13

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.