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

Rating 1536 · Intermediate · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/g2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/e5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c2; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop g2→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c7→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen c5→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppqn1ppp/8/3pP3/6P1/7P/PPbNQ1B1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 1 18

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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