Chess Puzzle #H3MAw — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1404 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen c3; rooks a1/h1; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/g3/h2. Black: king c7; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; knights c6/e2; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe2 — knight g1→e2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bb4 — bishop d6→b4. Opponent replies O-O (king e1→g1).
  3. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop b4→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bb4.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/ppk3pp/2nb4/8/8/2Q3P1/PP2n2P/R3K1NR w KQ - 0 24

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