Chess Puzzle #4Nzqh — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1200 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/d2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d3 — pawn d2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen d8→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen d1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen a5→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move is Qa5+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/pp2bppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/8/PP1P1PPP/R1BQK1NR w KQkq - 0 8

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