Chess Puzzle #39YD3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rook f1; bishop d1; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rook f8; knights c5/d7; pawns a6/b5/e4/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd3 — knight c5→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bb3 — bishop d1→b3. Opponent replies Qxb3 (queen d5→b3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxb3 — knight d4→b3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bb3.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3n2pp/p7/1pnq1p2/1P1Np3/P7/3Q2PP/3B1R1K b - - 0 31

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