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

Rating 1543 · Intermediate · equality, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop b5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d4; knight b8; pawns a6/b7/d6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd7 — bishop c8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop b5→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight b8→d7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short. The key move Bxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnbqk2r/1p3ppp/p2pp3/1B6/3bPP2/2N5/PPP3PP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 1 10

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