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

Rating 2300 · Expert · advantage, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook d1; bishop g3; pawns a3/b2/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen f6; rook d8; knight d4; pawns a6/b7/e5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa4 — queen c2→a4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Opponent replies cxb5 (pawn c4→b5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move is b5.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/1p4p1/p4q1p/4p3/2Pn4/P5BP/1PQ2PP1/3R2K1 w - - 3 32

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.