Chess Puzzle #bq3I2 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2209 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks c1/h1; bishop b2; knight g1; pawns a2/b3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/g8; knights c2/e3; pawns a7/b6/d7/e6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c7→c2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen d2→c2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxc2 — knight e3→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k1r1/p1qp1p1p/1p2p3/8/4P3/1P2nP2/PBnQ2PP/1KR3NR w q - 2 18

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.