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

Rating 2238 · Expert · crushing, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; bishops b2/g2; knight h3; pawns a2/b3/c2/c3/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen d8; bishops c6/e5; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/e4/f5/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen e3→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop b2→c1).
  3. Best move: Nd5 — knight f6→d5.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Qd1+.

Position data

FEN: 2kq4/pp6/2b2np1/2p1bp2/4p3/1PP1Q1PN/PBP2PB1/1K6 w - - 0 23

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.