Chess Puzzle #E1hir — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1949 · Advanced · equality, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knights d2/d5; pawns b2/c3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d7/e8; bishops b7/f6; knight c6; pawns b5/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb5 — bishop e2→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen d6→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
  3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen c5→b5, captures bishop. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c3→c4).
  4. Best move: Qc5 — queen b5→c5.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1b1r1ppp/2nq1b2/1p1Np3/4P3/2P2P2/1P1NB1PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 20

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