Chess Puzzle #2st5J — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/g5; pawns a3/b2/c2/e2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knights c6/e7; pawns a4/b7/d6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e2→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen d8→a5, gives check. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
  3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen a5→g5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa5+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1p2nppp/2np4/6B1/p7/P4Q2/1PP1PPPP/3RKB1R w K - 1 13

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