Chess Puzzle #Bl6GX — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1868 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishops e3/e4; pawns b2/c3/d4/f2/g5/h5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop d6; knight c4; pawns a7/b3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxa8 — bishop e4→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5 — queen d8→a5. Opponent replies Qxf7+ (queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxf7 — king g8→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa5.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/p4ppp/3b4/6PP/2nPB3/1pP1BQ2/1P3P2/2KR3R w - - 1 23

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