Chess Puzzle #bUbxh — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1874 · Advanced · equality, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen g3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d2; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishops g4/g7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop g7→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxc3 (bishop d2→c3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c5→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ne2 (knight g1→e2).
  4. Best move: Qe3+ — queen c3→e3, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Bxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp2ppbp/3p2p1/2q5/4P1b1/1PN3Q1/P1PB1PP1/2KR2NR w kq - 0 15

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