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

Rating 1536 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; rooks b1/d1; bishop c1; knights c4/e3; pawns a3/b2/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h8; bishops e7/f3; pawns a7/c5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd3 — rook d1→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be4 — bishop f3→e4. Opponent replies Nd6+ (knight c4→d6, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop e7→d6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook d3→d6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Bxb1 — bishop e4→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Be4.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p3bppp/4p3/2p1P3/2N5/P3NbP1/1P3P1P/1RBR2K1 w kq - 3 19

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