Chess Puzzle #30XOm — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1588 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b2; queen f3; bishop b5; knight g3; pawns a2/a4/c3/g5/h3. Black: king g8; rooks a1/b8; bishop h8; knight a6; pawns a7/c5/d3/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d2 — pawn d3→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kxa1 — king b2→a1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxc3+ (bishop h8→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kb1 — king a1→b1.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Kxa1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4kb/p4p1p/n2p2p1/1Bp3P1/P7/2Pp1QNP/PK6/r7 b - - 0 30

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