Chess Puzzle #EOS9s — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1708 · Advanced · crushing, exposed king, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen h3; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/g7/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook a8; bishops c5/c6; pawns a6/d4/d7/e6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd2 — king e2→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bb4+ — bishop c5→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king d2→c2).
  3. Best move: Ba4+ — bishop c6→a4, gives check. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b2→b3).
  4. Best move: Rc8+ — rook a8→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king c2→b2).
  5. Best move: Bc3+ — bishop b4→c3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move is Bb4+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/3p2Pp/p1b1p3/2b1q3/3p4/3B3Q/PP2K2P/R3R3 w - - 2 31

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