Chess Puzzle #3xco3 — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1497 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops e2/g3; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knights d5/d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e6/f5/f7/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf2 — bishop g3→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bh6 — bishop g7→h6. Opponent replies Qxh6 (queen d2→h6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h8→h6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, pin, short. The key move is Bh6.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pp1n1pb1/2ppp3/3n1p1p/3P3P/2N2PB1/PPPQB1P1/2KR2NR w kq - 0 12

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