Chess Puzzle #3ZNcQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2323 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king d3; rooks c1/h1; bishops a4/e3; pawns a2/b3/c5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b4/f8; bishop f6; knight b5; pawns a6/c6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd4 — bishop f6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd2 — bishop e3→d2. Opponent replies Rxa4 (rook b4→a4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: bxa4 — pawn b3→a4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/p1p1pb2/1nPp4/Br6/1P1KBP2/P5PP/2R4R b - - 0 22

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