Chess Puzzle #2Kmtb — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1106 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knight f6; pawns b5/c4/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight c3→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d8→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Qf2 (queen e2→f2).
  3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b6→b5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb6+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/4ppkp/3p1np1/1p6/2p1P3/2N2P2/PPP1Q1PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 18

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