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

Rating 1043 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks a1/f1; knight b8; pawns a2/b2/b7/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen b5; rook f8; bishop e7; knight e3; pawns a6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen c1→e3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen e3→c5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen b5→c5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1N3r2/1P2bppk/p6p/1q6/8/4n2P/PP4P1/R1Q2RK1 w - - 0 22

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