Chess Puzzle #BDVyy — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1579 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen c1; rook e1; bishop c4; knight d3; pawns a2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen a5; rook b2; knight d4; pawns a6/c3/c5/e5/f6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen c1→c2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook b2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/6kp/p4pp1/q1p1p3/2Bn1P2/2pN4/PrP3PP/K1Q1R3 w - - 3 32

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