Chess Puzzle #ZT66B — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2350 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knight e6; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/c8; bishop d6; knights b4/d5; pawns a7/b7/e5/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd2 — bishop e3→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa4 — queen a5→a4. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop d2→b4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxb4 — bishop d6→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/pp4pp/3bN3/q2npp2/1n6/P2PB3/1PP1QPPP/1K1R1B1R w - - 1 15

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