Chess Puzzle #MJ78T — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1480 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; bishop e2; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/d4/e4/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/e6; bishop f8; pawns a4/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g4→g5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: axb3 — pawn a4→b3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxb3 (queen e3→b3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rb6 — rook e6→b6.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move axb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4bk1/1pp2ppp/4r3/8/p2PP1PP/qP2Q3/P2NB3/1K1R3R w - - 0 25

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