Chess Puzzle #S0ijj — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks c2/g1; bishops b5/f2; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/d6/f4/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook f8; bishop g7; knights b4/d4; pawns a3/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook g1→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ndxc2 — knight d4→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c1→c2, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rd8 — rook f8→d8. Opponent replies d7 (pawn d6→d7).
4. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop g7→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen d2→c3, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxb5 — queen f5→b5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen c3→c4).
6. Best move: Qxd7 — queen b5→d7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen c4→b4, captures knight).
7. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d7→d1, gives check.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Ndxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5pbp/1p1Pp1p1/1B3qP1/1n1n1P2/pPN5/P1RQ1B1P/1K4R1 w - - 1 26

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