Chess Puzzle #5YoXt — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2141 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks b1/f1; bishop c1; knights e2/f3; pawns a3/b5/d4/e5/f2/g4/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks c8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/g6; pawns a4/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb1 — queen b6→b1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bb2 (bishop c1→b2).
  3. Best move: Qa2 — queen b1→a2.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1kb1r/1p3ppp/1qn1p1n1/1P1pP3/p2P2P1/P4N2/3QNP1P/1RB2RK1 w k - 0 19

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