Chess Puzzle #I9dkl — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1553 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen f7; rook a8; bishops c8/f6; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bg5 — bishop f6→g5. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen d2→g5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bg5.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/ppp2q1k/3p1bpp/8/3n4/1PN4P/P1PQNPP1/2KR3R w - - 1 18

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