Chess Puzzle #J9Ktt — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2315 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rook d1; bishop c5; knight d5; pawns a5/c4/g3/h2. Black: king c6; queen h3; rooks e4/e8; bishop d4; pawns a6/b7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop c5→d4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re2 — rook e4→e2. Opponent replies Nb4+ (knight d5→b4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kd7 — king c6→d7. Opponent replies Bf2+ (bishop d4→f2, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rxd2 — rook e2→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Re2.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/1p5p/p1k5/P1BN4/2Pbr3/6Pq/3Q3P/3R3K w - - 1 35

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