Chess Puzzle #DLa6E — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2019 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c3; knights g1/g3; pawns a3/b3/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishops f5/g7; pawns a5/a7/d4/e7/g4/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf5 — knight g3→f5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qc4+ (queen e2→c4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c5→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move dxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p3p1b1/6pp/p1q1Pb2/3p2p1/PPB3N1/2P1Q1PP/2KR2NR w - - 0 20

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