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

Rating 2234 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c4; rooks a1/f1; knights e5/h8; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen e4; bishops f5/f8; knights d5/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd2 — king e1→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen e4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d2→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen c2→b2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc2+.

Position data

FEN: 2k2b1N/ppp3pp/5n2/3nNb2/2QPq3/2P3P1/PP3P2/R3KR2 w Q - 12 21

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