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

Rating 1845 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks g4/h1; bishop c3; knight f2; pawns b2/e4/f5. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks c8/g8; knight f7; pawns a7/b5/f6/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Opponent replies Bxf6+ (bishop c3→f6, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen e7→f6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is b4.

Position data

FEN: 2r3rk/p3qn2/5p1p/1p3Pp1/4P1R1/2B5/1PQ2N2/2K4R w - - 0 35

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