Chess Puzzle #I3iVD — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1970 · Advanced · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e6; rooks d1/h1; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c2/f4/g5/h6. Black: king g8; queen a6; rooks b8/f7; knight d7; pawns a7/c6/d5/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen a6→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa3+.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p2n1r1p/q1p1QppP/3p2P1/5P2/1PN5/P1P5/2KR3R w - - 2 22

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