Chess Puzzle #35QSM — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1029 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d4; rooks d1/h1; bishop e2; pawns a4/b2/c2/d5/f4/g5/h3. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; knight c5; pawns a6/b5/d6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nb3+ — knight c5→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight b3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The key move is Nb3+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/2q1pp2/p2p2p1/1pnP2Pp/P2Q1P2/7P/1PP1B3/2KR3R w - - 1 23

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