Chess Puzzle #3kcH5 — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2248 · Expert · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights b1/g1; pawns a4/b2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b5/f8; knight g8; pawns a7/c5/c6/d3/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa5+ — queen d8→a5, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd2 — bishop c1→d2. Opponent replies Qa6 (queen a5→a6).
  3. Best move: b3 — pawn b2→b3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Bd2.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnr/p4ppp/2p1p3/1bp1P3/P4P2/3p4/1P4PP/RNBQK1NR b KQkq - 0 10

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