Chess Puzzle #lzujn — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2301 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b2/h1; knights c5/f3; pawns a3/b5/c4/d3/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen g4; rooks d8/h8; bishops g7/h3; knights c6/f5; pawns a7/b7/d4/e5/f6/g5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxg3 — knight f5→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxb7+ (pawn c6→b7, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kc7 — king c8→c7. Opponent replies Na6+ (knight c5→a6, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kd6 — king c7→d6. Opponent replies c5+ (pawn c4→c5, gives check).
  5. Best move: Ke7 — king d6→e7.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pp4b1/2n2p2/1PN1pnp1/2Pp2q1/P2P1NPb/1B3P2/R2QR1KB w - - 1 20

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