Chess Puzzle #BQ8IT — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2096 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/d1; bishop b3; knights e2/f3; pawns a4/b2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; rooks d8/h8; bishop d7; knights a5/b4; pawns a6/b7/e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxb3 — knight a5→b3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ra3 (rook a1→a3).
  3. Best move: Be6 — bishop d7→e6.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1p1b2pp/p4p2/n3p3/Pn2P3/1BP2N1P/1P2NPP1/R2R2K1 w - - 1 19

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