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

Rating 1800 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen h4; rook a1; knights b3/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king d7; queen b5; rooks a8/h8; pawns a7/b4/d5/e6/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc5+ — knight b3→c5, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen b5→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies dxc5 (pawn d4→c5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g5→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p2k1p2/4p2p/1q1pP1p1/1p1P1PPQ/1N3N2/PP4KP/R7 w - - 0 23

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