Chess Puzzle #30JSs — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1036 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/f1; bishops b5/c1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights b8/c3; pawns a7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen d4→c3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d8→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c1→e3).
  3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b6→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb6+.

Position data

FEN: rnbq1rk1/p3pp1p/3p2p1/1B1P4/3Q1P2/2n5/PPP3PP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 12

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