Chess Puzzle #IZ6tE — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2130 · Expert · defensive move, equality, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rook a1; bishop c4; knights f5/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight e6; pawns a5/b7/c6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe6 — bishop c8→e6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook a1→f1).
  3. Best move: Qb6 — queen f2→b6. Opponent replies Nxg7 (knight f5→g7, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nf5 (knight g7→f5).
  5. Best move: Qd8 — queen b6→d8.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/1p4pp/2p1np2/p4NN1/2B1P3/2Q5/PPP2qPP/R6K w - - 2 23

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