Chess Puzzle #5wfZ8 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1937 · Advanced · advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/f2; bishop e3; knight f4; pawns b2/b3/c2/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/c8; bishops b5/d4; pawns a5/b4/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg6 — knight f4→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe3 — bishop d4→e3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ne5+ (knight g6→e5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf8 — king g8→f8.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Bxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/4pp1p/3q2p1/pb6/1p1b1NQP/1P2BP2/1PP2RP1/R5K1 w - - 0 22

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