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

Rating 1522 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king g2; rook b7; knight f5; pawns b5/f2/f4/h2. Black: king f8; rook d8; bishop c4; pawns b6/e4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg7 — knight f5→g7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bd5+ — bishop c4→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king g2→g3).
  4. Best move: Bxb7 — bishop d5→b7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is e3.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/1R4p1/1p5p/1P3N2/2b1pP2/8/5PKP/8 w - - 0 34

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