Chess Puzzle #DP3OP — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1412 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen g3; rooks a1/h1; bishops d3/e5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h6; bishops d7/f8; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g5/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen g3→g5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb2 — queen b6→b2, captures pawn. Opponent replies O-O (king e1→g1).
  3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb2/1p1b1p2/pq2pn1r/3pB1pp/3P4/2NBP1QP/PP3PP1/R3K2R w KQq - 5 17

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.