Chess Puzzle #NCQG5 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1970 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king h2; queen c4; rooks c1/e1; bishop g2; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/d6/f4/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen b8; rooks a6/f8; bishop d7; knight d4; pawns a5/b6/c5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa6 — queen c4→a6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bb5 — bishop d7→b5. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen a6→b5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight d4→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Bb5.

Position data

FEN: 1q3r1k/3b2pp/rp1P1p2/p1p5/2QnNP2/P5PP/1P4BK/2R1R3 w - - 5 30

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