Chess Puzzle #4rOr1 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2408 · Master · advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rook d1; bishops b2/h1; knight g1; pawns a4/b3/c2/d3/e3/f2/g5. Black: king d8; queen f8; bishops a3/f5; knights c6/d7; pawns a5/b6/c7/d5/e6/f7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh8 — queen f8→h8. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d3→d4).
  3. Best move: Bxb2+ — bishop a3→b2, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Bxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3k1q2/2pn1p2/1pn1p3/p2p1bP1/P7/bP1PP3/1BPQ1P2/2KR2NB w - - 1 25

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