Chess Puzzle #3XslS — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1273 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks e1/f1; bishops d2/d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/e7; knight h5; pawns a7/b6/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen d4→c5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: bxc5 — pawn b6→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bc5.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/p2bbppp/1pp5/3p3n/3QPP2/2NB3P/PPPB2P1/4RRK1 w - - 0 14

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