Chess Puzzle #47xBq — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1413 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights f3/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g6; knights d4/g8; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc2+ — knight d4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen d1→c2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop g6→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move is Nc2+.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnr/pp3ppp/6b1/2p1P3/3n4/5NN1/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 9

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