Puzzle of the week #367

Submitted by eugen on Sun, 04/07/2019 - 20:49
Relative value
Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #367"][Date "2019.04.07"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/pk3p2/1p4p1/2p1q2p/2Pn3P/1P1P2P1/1N3P2/3Q2K1 b - - 0 1"]
The looks can be deceiving in this position. Material is equal and both Kings have castled long time ago in the opening. It is black to move. Your tasks:
a) Analyse the position and decide who stands better? Is black OK?
b) What plan should black put together?
c) Put together the best moves you can think of to fit the plan

Total available points for this puzzle is 25. The answers will be published next time together with puzzle #368.

Puzzle #366 solution:
Stamma 1737. This week's best answers are by the top scorers. This time all got the answers right and the small difference was made by better explanations:
a) White must find a solution because black has a mate in 1 that cannot be stopped
b) White's solution must be forcing moves (checks) ending with mate

[Event "Puzzle #366"][Date "2019.03.31"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "rn3r1k/6pp/1pN2p2/p3N3/1P5q/PQ2PPp1/5n2/2R3K1 w - - 0 1"]1. Qg8+ Kxg8 (1... Rxg8 2. Nf7# {smothered mate}) 2. Ne7+ Kh8 3. Nf7+ Rxf7 4. Rc8+ Rf8 5. Rxf8# {back rank mate}

Correct solutions:
Lyvia, Matthew, Eric, Joey, Coby, Aiden, Brian, Glyn, Walter - 25 points
Zhengyu - 24 points
Lucas - 23 points

Standings:
Aiden - 165 points
Matthew - 161 points
Eric - 146 points
Zhengyu - 132 points
Coby - 131 points
Joey - 130 points
Walter - 120 points
Glyn - 108 points
Brian - 101 points
Lucas - 94 points
Mengbai - 73 points
Lyvia - 70 points
Blake - 69 points