Chess Puzzle #2Mol2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1548 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishop e3; knights b5/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks b8/f8; bishops e7/h7; knight d7; pawns a4/c5/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b7→b5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen e2→b5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxb5 — rook b8→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/1q1nbppb/7p/1NppPP2/p2P2P1/4BN2/PP2Q2P/2R2RK1 w - - 1 22

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