Chess Puzzle #E490A — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1625 · Advanced · equality, opening, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen b7; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop d7; knights a6/f6; pawns a5/c4/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop f1→c4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc5 — knight a6→c5. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen b7→a8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa8 — queen d8→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short, trapped piece. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/1Qpb1ppp/n4n2/p2Pp3/2p1P3/2N5/PP3PPP/R1B1KBNR w KQkq - 1 9

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