Chess Puzzle #M7BoQ — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1772 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks f1/h4; bishops b2/c2; knight e5; pawns b3/c4/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops f5/f8; knight f6; pawns a6/c5/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxf7 — knight e5→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop f5→c2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxh6+ (knight f7→h6, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move Bxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3rbk1/2q2pp1/p2p1n1p/2pPNb2/2P4R/1P6/1BB2PPP/3Q1RK1 w - - 0 21

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