Chess Puzzle #51wNm — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1589 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen b7; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/f4; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f5/f8; knights a5/g8; pawns a6/d5/e7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen b7→b4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e5 — pawn e7→e5. Opponent replies Qa4+ (queen b4→a4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bd7 — bishop f5→d7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, opening, short. The key move is e5.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnr/1Q2pppp/p7/n2p1b2/3P1B2/4P3/PP3PPP/RN2KBNR w KQkq - 1 8

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