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

Rating 1272 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, trapped piece.

Position

White: king c4; bishop d4; pawns a4/b3/e3/f3/g3/h3. Black: king e6; rook d5; pawns a5/b4/f5/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd6 — king e6→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: e4 — pawn e3→e4. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f3→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Ke6 (king d6→e6).
  4. Best move: exd5+ — pawn e4→d5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, trapped piece. The key move exd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/4k3/p2r1ppp/PpKB4/1P2PPPP/8/8 b - - 2 36

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