Chess Puzzle #sNJ5a — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2237 · Expert · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/d3; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/e6/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen a7; rook f8; bishops c8/g7; knights c5/h5; pawns c6/f4/g5/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen b3→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ba6 — bishop c8→a6. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen c4→c5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen a7→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Ba6.

Position data

FEN: 2b2r1k/q5b1/2p1P2p/2n3pn/5p2/1Q1B1N1P/PP3PP1/R1B2RK1 w - - 1 24

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