Chess Puzzle #FMEfN — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1557 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, opening.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b5/c1; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g4; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nbd2 — knight b1→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf3 — bishop g4→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d2→f3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qa5+ — queen c7→a5, gives check. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
  4. Best move: Qxb5 — queen a5→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, opening. The key move Bxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/ppq1pppp/2n2n2/1B6/6b1/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 1 7

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