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

Rating 1420 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e2; queen f2; rooks a1/h3; bishop a7; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f5/g5. Black: king a8; queen c6; rooks d7/h8; bishop a5; knight e7; pawns b7/d6/e5/g7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bb6 — bishop a7→b6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies exd5 (pawn e4→d5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxb6 — queen c6→b6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen f2→b6, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Bxb6 — bishop a5→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: k6r/Bp1rn1p1/2qp4/b2NpPP1/2P1P2p/1P5R/P3KQ2/R7 w - - 1 27

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