Chess Puzzle #248oL — Beginner, Black to move, opening

Rating 979 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/d5/f2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook a8; bishops c8/f8; knights e5/f6; pawns b5/b7/c5/d6/e4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxa1 — queen a5→a1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxa1 (rook f1→a1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxa1+ — rook a8→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxa1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2bk1/1p4pp/3p1n2/qppPnP2/P3p3/2N5/1PPBQPPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 15

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