Chess Puzzle #9Bubx — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1453 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook d8; bishops a3/b5; pawns a4/c2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e6; rook a8; knights b8/f6; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5+ — queen f3→f5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen e6→f5, captures queen. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e4→f5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn1R4/1pp2ppk/p3qn1p/1B2p3/P3P3/B1P2Q2/2P2PPP/6K1 w - - 1 20

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

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