Chess Puzzle #10HIL — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1569 · Intermediate · discovered attack, equality, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e3/h3; knight e4; pawns a2/c5/d3/d5/f5/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishops d7/e7; knight c3; pawns a7/b7/e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc5 — bishop e7→c5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen d1→f3).
  3. Best move: Bxe3+ — bishop c5→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen f3→e3, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c7→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Bxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppqbb1pp/5p2/2PPpPP1/4N2P/2nPB2B/P7/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 23

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