Chess Puzzle #K8iaO — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1545 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops d3/f4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d8; rook h8; bishops b7/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns b5/d6/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb5 — bishop d3→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen d8→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd2 (bishop f4→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen a5→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa5+.

Position data

FEN: 3q1b1r/1b2kpp1/2nppn1p/1p6/4PB2/3B1N2/PPQ2PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 14

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