Chess Puzzle #3j5QS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1130 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop d5; knights f2/g1; pawns a2/b3/e4/f3/g2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishop f6; knight b6; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f2→g4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc3 — bishop f6→c3. Opponent replies Qxc3+ (queen d2→c3, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bc3.

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/2q4p/pn1p1bp1/2pB4/1p2P3/1P3P2/P2Q1NP1/3RK1NR w K - 1 22

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.