Chess Puzzle #1erxi — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1164 · Beginner · crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b3/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/f6; pawns a6/b5/c7/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen d6→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop b3→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight f6→d5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen h5→d5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/2pn1kp1/p2q1n1p/1p1p4/3P1B2/1B4P1/PPP2P1P/R2QR1K1 b - - 2 14

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