Chess Puzzle #81Mlw — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2144 · Expert · advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks d1/f1; bishop f4; knights c5/f3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen g4; rooks d8/g8; bishops b7/b8; knight e7; pawns a6/c6/d6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh4 — knight f3→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: dxc5 — pawn d6→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd8+ (rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook g8→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxb8 (bishop f4→b8, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Kxb8 — king c8→b8, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move dxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1bkr2r1/1b2np1p/p1pp3Q/2N5/4PBq1/5N2/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 6 18

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