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

Rating 1760 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e3; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f4/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight h2; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7/g7/h4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh1 — rook f1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen d8→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e3→e2).
  3. Best move: Bg4+ — bishop c8→g4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb6+.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/pp3pp1/2pp4/8/4PP1p/2NBK3/PPPB2Pn/R2Q1R2 w kq - 0 15

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