Puzzle #21: Winning material
Rating ≈ 1600 · 3 moves to find
Black to move and win material.
Show a hint
Go through every check and capture, then every threat.
Show the solution
- 24… Be5+ — the bishop goes to e5 with check.
- 25. d4 is forced: it is the best way out of check.
- 25… Rec8+ — the rook goes to c8 with check.
- 26. Kd2 is the only legal move.
- 26… Rxb2+ — the rook takes the bishop on b2 with check.
Why it works. Forcing moves leave the opponent no time to defend everything. At the end of the line Black is about 3 points of material better off.
Themes: Winning material
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This position comes from a training game and was checked with a chess engine: every move you need to find is the only one that works.