Chess Puzzle #BMbs4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; knight e5; pawns a2/a4/d4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rook f8; bishop a6; pawns c6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa6 — queen e2→a6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb8+ — rook f8→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Qb5 (queen a6→b5).
  3. Best move: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Rb8+.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/b1p1p3/3pN3/P2P2P1/q6P/P3QP2/1K1R3R w - - 1 23

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.