Chess Puzzle #4iPL8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1220 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks d1/f7; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns b2/c2/d5/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen d8; rook c8; bishop g7; knights b6/f6; pawns a6/b5/d6/e7/g6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb6 — bishop e3→b6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb6+ — queen d8→b6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
  3. Best move: Nxg4 — knight f6→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq4/4pRbk/pn1p1np1/1p1P4/4P1Q1/2N1B2P/1PP3P1/3R2K1 w - - 1 21

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