Chess Puzzle #3fHXZ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1206 · Intermediate · bishop endgame, crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king e3; bishop d6; pawns a2/c4/e4/f6/g5/h4. Black: king f7; bishop b6; pawns a4/b4/c5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf4 — king e3→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Opponent replies axb3 (pawn a2→b3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: axb3 — pawn a4→b3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

bishop endgame, crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is b3.

Position data

FEN: 8/5k1p/1b1BpPp1/2p3P1/ppP1P2P/4K3/P7/8 w - - 5 39

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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