Chess Puzzle #2SbtO — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1558 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e4; knight f3; pawns a3/c3/c4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e6/f4/f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f5→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies dxc6 (pawn d5→c6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move fxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r1k/ppp4p/2n1p3/3p1p2/2PPBp2/P1P1PN2/2Q2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 13

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