Chess Puzzle #SeiCn — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2375 · Expert · advantage, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/b5; knights d2/g6; pawns a5/e4/g2. Black: king b8; queen f2; rook d8; bishops b6/h3; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf1 — bishop b5→f1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c5→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies axb6 (pawn a5→b6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Ng3+ — knight e4→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
  4. Best move: Nxf1+ — knight g3→f1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf1 (knight d2→f1, captures knight).
  5. Best move: Qxc2 — queen f2→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies bxc7+ (pawn b6→c7, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: Qxc7 — queen c2→c7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/ppp2pp1/1b1p2N1/PBn4p/4P3/7b/1BQN1qP1/R3R2K w - - 0 23

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