Chess Puzzle #4sxhz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1725 · Advanced · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king d2; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishop c4; pawns a2/c3/d4/g6. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f4; bishop c8; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf2+ — rook f4→f2, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ke1 — king d2→e1. Opponent replies Ne3 (knight f5→e3).
  3. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop c4→d5, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight e3→d5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Kxf2 — king e1→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Bxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pp4p1/2p3Pp/3q1n2/Q1BPpr2/2P5/P2K4/R6R b - - 3 26

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