Chess Puzzle #55iLa — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1379 · Intermediate · advantage, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rook a1; bishop g2; knight h3; pawns d4/e5/f2/g3/h6. Black: king h8; queen e7; rook a8; bishop c6; knight c3; pawns c4/d5/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa8+ — queen a2→a8, captures rook, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxa8 — bishop c6→a8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxa8+ (rook a1→a8, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh7 — king h8→h7.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Bxa8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6k/4qp2/2b1p1pP/3pP3/2pP4/2n3PN/Q4PB1/R5K1 w - - 0 35

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