Chess Puzzle #38jgV — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1147 · Beginner · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights a8/c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g2; rook h8; bishops c8/e7; knights c5/e4; pawns a7/b7/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5+ — queen d1→d5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen d5→e4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c5→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move is Be6.

Position data

FEN: N1b3kr/pp2b1pp/8/2n1p3/4n3/2N2P2/PPP3qP/R1BQKR2 w Q - 0 14

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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