Chess Puzzle #Kw34o — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1470 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/e1; bishops c4/e3; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen b4→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen d3→c4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc4 — rook c8→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp1nppbp/3p1np1/8/1qBPP3/3QBN1P/PP3PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 3 15

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