Chess Puzzle #pg42S — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2570 · Master · endgame, equality, pin, very long.

Position

White: king g1; rook e3; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/c3/d3/f4/g3/h2. Black: king h5; rook c8; bishop f8; pawns a6/c4/f5/f7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d3→c4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5 — bishop f8→c5. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
  3. Best move: Re8 — rook c8→e8. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b3→b4).
  4. Best move: Bxe3+ — bishop c5→e3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe3 (king f2→e3, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c4→c5).
  6. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f6→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, pin, very long. The key move Bxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2b2/5p2/p6p/4Np1k/2p2P2/1PPPR1P1/P6P/6K1 w - - 0 29

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