Chess Puzzle #RB5WO — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2612 · Master · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishops e3/e4; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knight e5; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/f7/h5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb7 — bishop e4→b7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxb7 — queen c7→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bd4 (bishop e3→d4).
  3. Best move: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop d4→h8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: f5 — pawn f7→f5.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxb7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1bqpbp1p/p3p3/1p2n2p/4B3/2N1BN2/PP2QP1P/R4R1K w kq - 0 16

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