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

Rating 1124 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/f6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d7/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen h5→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen c7→c5, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc5 (knight e4→c5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bd4+ — bishop f6→d4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1pqp2pp/p3pb2/2p4Q/4NP2/3P4/PPP3PP/R1B2RK1 w - - 4 15

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