Chess Puzzle #Md3WV — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2105 · Expert · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/d1; bishops a2/e3; knights b1/d4; pawns b4/c3/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h3; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/c7; knights e5/g8; pawns b5/c4/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight d4→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd1 (queen e2→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxc7+ (knight b5→c7, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Opponent replies Bc5+ (bishop e3→c5, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kf6 — king e7→f6. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  6. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rk1nr/1bb2pp1/4p2p/1p2n3/1PpNP3/2P1B1Pq/B3QP1P/RN1R2K1 w k - 3 21

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