Chess Puzzle #4EzS8 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1045 · Beginner · advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/f4; knight d2; pawns a4/b2/c3/d6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/e6; knight f6; pawns a5/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe6 — bishop c4→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: c4+ — pawn c5→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: cxb3 — pawn c4→b3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move is c4+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1p3ppp/1b1Pbn2/p1p5/P1B2B2/1QP5/1P1N2PP/R4RK1 w - - 1 17

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