Chess Puzzle #0aO4E — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1508 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king e2; rook b3; bishops c4/e1; pawns a2/c2/f3/h3. Black: king b7; queen c5; bishop e5; pawns a7/c7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king b7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Be6+ — bishop c4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c8→d8).
  3. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b3→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king d8→e7).
  4. Best move: Bb4 — bishop e1→b4. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen c5→b4, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Rxb4 — rook b8→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, pin, very long. The key move is Be6+.

Position data

FEN: 8/pkp3pp/5p2/2q1b3/2B5/1R3P1P/P1P1K3/4B3 b - - 4 25

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