Chess Puzzle #D1gYz — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1585 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop d4; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/c3/e5/f5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; knights b4/e4; pawns a7/b6/d5/e7/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c7→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen c2→e2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc2+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p1q1pp2/1p4p1/3pPP1p/1n1BnQ1P/1PP5/P3N1P1/1K1R3R w - - 1 24

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