Chess Puzzle #wMgAl — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2276 · Expert · defensive move, equality, intermezzo, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks b1/d1; bishops a3/e4; knight d4; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe7 — bishop a3→e7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd4 (rook d1→d4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bxb7 (bishop e4→b7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxb7 — rook e7→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe4 (queen c2→e4).
  5. Best move: Rbb8 — rook b7→b8.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pb2nppp/1pn1p3/7q/3NB3/B1P5/P1Q2PPP/1R1R2K1 w - - 6 16

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