Chess Puzzle #168M1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1493 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook f1; bishops d3/e1; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rook b8; bishop f5; knight e4; pawns a7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop e1→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop f5→d3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen e2→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p4pp1/2p4p/3p1b2/3PnP2/q1PBP3/P3Q1PP/4BRK1 b - - 3 22

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