Chess Puzzle #89q7e — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, clearance, middlegame, pin, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop b3; knights b1/d8; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h2; bishops b6/g4; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/e5/g3. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight d8→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Kd7 — king e8→d7. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen d2→g5).
  3. Best move: Rah8 — rook a8→h8. Opponent replies Qg7+ (queen g5→g7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxc6 — king d7→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bd5+ (bishop b3→d5, gives check).
  5. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, middlegame, pin, quiet move, very long. The key move is Kd7.

Position data

FEN: r2Nk3/2p5/pbnp1n2/1p2p3/4P1b1/1BPP2p1/PP1Q1PPr/RN3RK1 w q - 0 16

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