Chess Puzzle #2pVmL — Beginner, White to move, opening

Rating 1113 · Beginner · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen a2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knights c1/f3; pawns a3/c3/d4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b3; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights a5/d7; pawns a6/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc3+ — queen b3→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd2 — bishop e3→d2. Opponent replies Qxa1 (queen c3→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen a2→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Bd2.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/3n1ppp/p3p3/n1ppP3/3P1P2/PqP1BN2/Q5PP/R1N1KB1R b KQkq - 4 14

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