Chess Puzzle #mZZ5o — Expert, Black to move, opening

Rating 2084 · Expert · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/d3; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/b2/d2/d4/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen g2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b5/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb5+ — bishop d3→b5, captures pawn, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen d1→f3).
  3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen g2→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight g5→f3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move is c6.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/p1p2ppp/5n2/1p2p1N1/3P4/3B4/PP1P1PqP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 9

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