Chess Puzzle #BQ40M — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1483 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, opening.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/e1; bishop f4; knights b1/f3; pawns a4/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop a7; knights c6/e5; pawns a6/b7/c7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop f4→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop a7→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  4. Best move: Bxe1 — bishop f2→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, opening. The key move Bxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/bpp3p1/p1n4p/4n3/PPQ2B2/5N1P/5PP1/RN2R1K1 w - - 0 20

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