Chess Puzzle #53PJ5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1262 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishops b3/h6; pawns a2/b2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; bishop g6; knight d7; pawns a7/d5/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop b3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c7→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Qf2 (queen e2→f2).
  3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen c5→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/p1qn1p1p/5pbB/3p4/8/1B3P2/PP2Q1PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 22

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