Chess Puzzle #eyB90 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1886 · Advanced · crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king a2; queen f2; rooks d1/e3; knights b1/b2; pawns a5/b5/f3. Black: king c8; queen b4; rook b3; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/c4/d5/d7/f5/g5/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb3 — rook e3→b3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: cxb3+ — pawn c4→b3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king a2→a1).
  3. Best move: Qxa5+ — queen b4→a5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Na4 (knight b2→a4).
  4. Best move: Qxa4+ — queen a5→a4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move cxb3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/pb1p3p/1p6/PP1p1pp1/1qp5/1r2RP2/KN3Q2/1N1R4 w - - 1 34

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