Chess Puzzle #1hBvE — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1674 · Advanced · advantage, master, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/e8; bishop a3; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxa3 — pawn b2→a3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa3+ — queen e7→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Re5 — rook e8→e5.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxa3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/1pp1qppp/p1p2n2/8/4P3/b1NPBP1P/1PPQ1P2/2KR3R w - - 0 15

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