Chess Puzzle #Y4mz5 — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2267 · Expert · advantage, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/h4; knights c3/h3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks c8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knights b4/f5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a5→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen a1→b2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move is Qa1+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2b1r/pp1bk2p/4pp2/q2p1n1Q/1n1P3B/P1N4N/1PP2PPP/2KR1B1R w - - 1 17

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.