Chess Puzzle #3c53b — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1697 · Advanced · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/g2; knight d2; pawns a2/c3/d4/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/e8; bishops f6/g6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop f6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c3→d4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen d7→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  4. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d4→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Bxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pppq1ppp/2n2bb1/8/3PP3/2P3P1/P2N1PBP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 1 15

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