Chess Puzzle #NbwX1 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2065 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; knights d2/f3; pawns a2/b4/c3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/b7; knight c6; pawns a6/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight d2→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen a3→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rc1 (rook a1→c1).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen c3→b4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1bp2ppp/pbn1p3/4P1B1/1P1P4/q1P2N2/P2N2PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 17

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