Chess Puzzle #I18Gu — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1400 · Intermediate · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/d1; bishop e2; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/e4; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop e4→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxa8 (rook d8→a8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook f8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/5ppp/p3pn2/1pb5/4b3/P1N2N1P/2Q1BPP1/R2R2K1 w - - 0 17

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