Chess Puzzle #3bQQ5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1353 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king b6; bishop a3; pawns b3/f2/f4/h2. Black: king f7; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxa6 — king b6→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop a3→b4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Nxb4+ — knight d3→b4, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short, trapped piece. The key move Nxb4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/5k1p/pK4p1/1p3p2/5P2/BP1n4/5P1P/8 w - - 4 37

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