Chess Puzzle #wi4Cx — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2282 · Expert · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks b1/f1; bishops b5/g3; knight e3; pawns a2/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king b8; queen d7; rooks d8/h6; bishop f8; knights c6/d5; pawns b7/c7/e4/f5/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen d7→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen a4→c6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook h6→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rfd1 (rook f1→d1).
  4. Best move: Rc5 — rook c6→c5.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b2/1ppq2p1/2n4r/1B1nPp1p/Q3p2P/4N1B1/P4PP1/1R3RK1 w - - 0 25

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