Chess Puzzle #EMR8j — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2550 · Master · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knight d5; pawns a4/c2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h6; rooks d8/h8; bishops d6/d7; pawns b7/c7/f4/f7/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen e5→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Be6 — bishop d7→e6. Opponent replies Qa5 (queen c3→a5).
  3. Best move: Kb8 — king c8→b8.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Be6.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1ppb1p1p/3b3q/1B1NQ1p1/P4p2/8/2P3PP/R1B2K1R w - - 1 19

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