Chess Puzzle #9CLBo — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1492 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen f3; rook h1; bishops c3/d3; knights c4/g1; pawns b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a4/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight b8; pawns b6/b7/c7/e5/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh3 — knight g1→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bg4 — bishop c8→g4. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c4→e5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxf3+ — bishop g4→f3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Bxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1nb2rk1/1pp1bp2/1p4p1/4p2p/r1N5/2BB1Q2/1P2KPPP/6NR w - - 0 19

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