Chess Puzzle #1OsED — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1212 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/e1; bishops c4/f4; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/e7; knights d7/f6; pawns a6/b6/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop b7→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop c4→d5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight f6→d5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen h3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxd5 — queen e6→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Bxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1b1nb1pp/pp1p1n2/8/2BP1B2/2P4Q/PP1N1PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 4 16

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