Chess Puzzle #5Gcpm — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1134 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop b5; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f6/g4; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc5 — knight e4→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen d8→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen c2→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen a5→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pp1n1ppp/4pb2/1B6/3PN1b1/5N2/PPQ2PPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 2 12

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