Chess Puzzle #W4iXE — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1977 · Advanced · equality, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d1/d2; bishop g3; knight d3; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks d8/e8; bishop a6; knight h7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nb4 — knight d3→b4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen g6→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen b6→b4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb6+.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp3p1n/b5qp/3p2p1/2P1P3/1P1N1PBP/P2RQ1P1/3R2K1 w - - 0 26

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