Chess Puzzle #3rxjm — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1667 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook e1; bishop c4; knights f1/f3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f4; rook a8; bishops b7/c5; knight b4; pawns a6/b6/e6/f6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight b4→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop c4→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop b7→d5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen b3→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Bxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/1b3p2/pp2pp2/2b5/1nB2q2/PQ3N2/1P3PPP/4RNK1 b q - 0 25

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.