Chess Puzzle #34etH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1461 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king a1; rooks c1/g1; bishops d2/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/d4/g2/h4. Black: king f8; queen a4; bishop e4; pawns c7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc3 — bishop d2→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bd5 — bishop e4→d5. Opponent replies Bc4 (bishop e2→c4).
  3. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop d5→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rc2 (rook c1→c2).
  4. Best move: Qxc2 — queen a4→c2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Bd5.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/2p1pp2/3p2p1/7p/q2Pb2P/5N2/P2BB1P1/K1R3R1 w - - 5 29

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