Chess Puzzle #29ccW — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1170 · Beginner · crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; bishop b2; knights d2/g1; pawns a2/f2/g2/g7/h2. Black: king e8; queen d5; rooks a8/g8; bishops b4/f5; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c4/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen c2→c4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd2+ — bishop b4→d2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d1→d2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen d5→c4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Bxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2k1r1/ppp2pPp/8/3q1b2/1bp5/8/PBQN1PPP/2KR2NR w q - 5 12

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.