Chess Puzzle #9zYy7 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rooks c1/c2; bishops e5/g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks c6/e8; bishops c4/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b5/d5/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight c3→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxb5 — bishop c4→b5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc6 (rook c2→c6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Bxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rb2/p2q1pk1/2r2npp/Qp1pB3/2bP4/2N3P1/PPR2PBP/2R3K1 w - - 0 23

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