Chess Puzzle #5ZITB — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1434 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishops e4/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a7/c6/f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc6 — bishop e4→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d8→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop f4→e3).
  3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen b6→c6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb6+.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/p3bp1k/2p3pp/4P3/4BB2/6QP/PPP3P1/R4RK1 w - - 0 18

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