Chess Puzzle #0L8aA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1272 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rook f1; bishop e2; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c6; rook a8; bishop f5; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop f5→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bb5 — bishop e2→b5. Opponent replies O-O-O (king e8→c8).
  3. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bb5.

Position data

FEN: r3kn2/ppp5/2q3p1/4Qb2/3Pp3/8/P3BPPP/5RK1 b q - 2 18

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