Chess Puzzle #9bUC4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1546 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/d5; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops g5/h5; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb7 — bishop d5→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d8→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Qxb7 — queen b6→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/pp3ppp/3p4/3Bn1bb/4P3/1P3P2/PB2N1PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 15

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