Chess Puzzle #9CwUD — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop e2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/e8; bishop e6; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c4→d5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qb6+ — queen c7→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
4. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop e6→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nc4 (knight d2→c4).
5. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop d5→c4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxc4 (bishop e2→c4, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move cxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/ppqn1ppp/2p1b3/4P3/2PP4/8/PP1NB1PP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 3 15

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