Chess Puzzle #3VeJq — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1131 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a3/d1; knight d5; pawns a5/b2/c2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen c5; rooks g8/h8; bishop f6; pawns a7/e7/g2. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxg2 — king g1→g2, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c5→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g2→f3).
  3. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen c2→d1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k4rr/p3p3/4Qb2/P1qN4/8/R5P1/1PP3pP/3R2K1 w - - 3 32

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