Chess Puzzle #6tVES — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2223 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/d3; knight d8; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook a8; bishops c5/g4; knight f6; pawns a5/b5/c7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe1 — queen e2→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3 — queen d6→g3. Opponent replies Be5 (bishop b2→e5).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen g3→e5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Qg3.

Position data

FEN: r2N2k1/2p2pp1/3q1n1p/ppb5/4P1b1/1P1B4/PBP1QPP1/R4RK1 w - - 1 18

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