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

Rating 1529 · Intermediate · advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/c7/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa8 — queen e4→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen f5→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook f8→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1p2p2/1p2b1pp/n4q2/4QP2/2NB4/PP4PP/R4RK1 w - - 1 19

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