Chess Puzzle #1kfnM — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1495 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks a1/e1; bishops a3/h3; knight d2; pawns a5/c3/d4/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops a6/g7; knight a8; pawns a7/b7/c5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop a3→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c8→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies dxc5 (pawn d4→c5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd2 — queen d8→d2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: n1rq1rk1/pp3pbp/b3p1p1/P1p5/3PP3/B1P3PB/3N1P1P/RQ2R1K1 w - - 0 21

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