Chess Puzzle #e8NHq — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1815 · Advanced · equality, fork, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/c4; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights b8/h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d3 — pawn d2→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa5+ — queen d8→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd2 (bishop c1→d2).
  3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen a5→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, opening, short. The key move is Qa5+.

Position data

FEN: rn1qkb1r/pp3p1p/2p3pn/4N3/2BpP3/8/PPPPQPPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 2 9

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