Chess Puzzle #22gvx — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1016 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen g6; rooks e1/h1; knight d1; pawns a3/c2/c3/d4/d5/f3/g2. Black: king d8; queen b6; rooks b8/f8; bishop f5; pawns a4/c7/d6/e7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen g6→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen b6→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen b1→c2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1k1r2/2p1p3/1q1p2Q1/3P1b2/p2P4/P1P2P2/2P3P1/2KNR2R w - - 1 25

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