Chess Puzzle #I0L19 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/f3; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/e3; bishops d6/f5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc1 — bishop b2→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Opponent replies Bxe3 (bishop c1→e3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen f4→e3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen d1→e1).
4. Best move: Bd3+ — bishop f5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Ne2 (knight c3→e2).
5. Best move: Bg3 — bishop d6→g3. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen e1→g3, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Bxe2+ — bishop d3→e2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe2 (bishop f3→e2, captures bishop).
7. Best move: Qxg3 — queen e3→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, pin, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp3ppp/3b4/5b2/3P1q2/1PN1rB1P/PB4P1/R2Q1K1R w - - 7 20

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