Chess Puzzle #4OZth — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2421 · Master · equality, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/g1; bishops c1/d3; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/c4/d5/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knights e4/g6; pawns b6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop d7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc2 — queen d1→c2. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f4→g3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop d3→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Qc2.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/1ppb2pp/1p1p2n1/3Pp3/1PP1np2/P2B1NPP/5PK1/R1BQ2R1 b - - 1 19

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