Chess Puzzle #5vnsM — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rook b1; bishop f4; knight c4; pawns a3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rook h8; bishop f8; knight f6; pawns b5/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb5 — rook b1→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb5+ (queen a4→b5, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Qd7 — queen d8→d7.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3qkb1r/5ppp/2p1pn2/1p6/Q1NP1B2/P3P2P/5PP1/1R4K1 w k - 0 19

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.