Chess Puzzle #IcDV5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1554 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/d3; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/d5/h3. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/e3; bishop d7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop d2→e3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e8→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen e3→g5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2q1k1/pppb1pp1/3p4/3P2N1/8/3Br2P/PPQB4/R3K2R w KQ - 0 17

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