Chess Puzzle #8B90Y — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1498 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, long, pin.

Position

White: king e2; queen f3; rook a1; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/g2. Black: king g7; queen h2; bishop e5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe6 — bishop b3→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop e5→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf7+ (queen f3→f7, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh6 — king g7→h6.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long, pin. The key move dxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp4kp/2n1p1p1/2p1b3/3p4/1BPP1Q2/PP2K1Pq/R7 w - - 0 21

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