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

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

Position

White: king d2; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; knight a8; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f6; queen b2; rook h8; bishop d3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf3+ — queen d1→f3, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bf5 — bishop d3→f5. Opponent replies Qc3+ (queen f3→c3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen b2→c3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: N6r/pp3ppp/2n2k2/8/8/3b4/PqPK1PPP/R2QR3 w - - 2 16

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