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

Rating 1385 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks a1/d1; knight f5; pawns a2/c2/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen c7; rook e8; bishop b4; knight e6; pawns b7/c6/e5/f6/f7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a2→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5 — bishop b4→c5. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen a7→c5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e6→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Bc5.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/Qpq2p1k/2p1np1p/4pN2/1b2P3/6P1/P1P2P1P/R2R2K1 w - - 0 23

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