Chess Puzzle #1ayVT — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2043 · Expert · advanced pawn, discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks d1/f1; bishop a2; knights c3/f7; pawns a3/b4/c2/d3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b7; rooks a8/h5; bishop e7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b5/c6/e5/g7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king e8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: dxc6+ — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
  3. Best move: cxb7 — pawn c6→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, discovered attack, discovered check, equality, middlegame, short. The key move dxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/pq1nbNp1/2p2n2/1p1Pp2r/1P6/P1NP3P/B1P2PP1/3R1RK1 b q - 0 17

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