Help me with this puzzle

Question

Look at this puzzle:

[FEN "r3q3/1pb1rbk1/2pn1p1p/p1Qp1Bp1/3P4/4P1NP/PP3PPB/3RR1K1 b - - 0 1"]

The aim of the puzzle is: Black to play and attain a good position. But I can't find a good position here. Then I looked at the solution, which was 1... Nc4!! . But I can't understand what happens after this move. I think both sides are equal. Can anyone help me?

Then the queen is trapped – sharcashmo Mar 27 '16 at 09:23 — sharcashmo, Mar 27 '16 at 09:23

Glorfindel · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-27T10:08:13.817

7

Black will trap the queen on the next move, either with Bd6 or b6. For example:

[FEN "r3q3/1pb1rbk1/2pn1p1p/p1Qp1Bp1/3P4/4P1NP/PP3PPB/3RR1K1 b - - 0 1"]

1... Nc4 2. b3 Bd6 3. bxc4 Bxc5 4. dxc5 dxc4

and with a queen and a (passed) pawn for two minor pieces, Black will have no problems to win this game.

edited Mar 27 '16 at 10:08

answered Mar 27 '16 at 09:45

Glorfindel

24,825
6
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b6 is still winning though it is not as good as Bd6. – Tony Ennis Mar 27 '16 at 15:04
1

I meant that ...b6 is necessary in a variation like 2. Nf1 Bxh2+ 3. Nxh2 b6. – Glorfindel Mar 27 '16 at 16:19

pbu · Answer 2 · 2016-03-28T22:30:53.300

2

Wait it is not over yet :)

The queen trap from ..Nc4 can be avoided. White can give a check 1. ..Nc4 2. Nh4 ..Bxh4 3. Bxc7.

You can also prevent the knight trapping the queen by giving that check beforehand. Thats another way around.

Apologies i am just a beginner, not good with chess notations, but he point is queen can be saved using Whites black bishop. I may be wrong.

edited Mar 28 '16 at 22:30

answered Mar 28 '16 at 22:25

pbu

972
1
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I think you're right, though I am not sure it is any better. Note, move 3 is Bxc7 not Bxc2 – Tony Ennis Mar 28 '16 at 22:30
4

Stockfish weeps at the score 2. Nc4 causes. The problem is that after your variation, the White Q is still trapped and falls to b6. – Tony Ennis Mar 28 '16 at 22:33

Help me with this puzzle

2 Answers2