Chess Puzzle #5xjBL — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1602 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c4/f6; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d5; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop d5→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d1→f3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxa8 — queen f3→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
  4. Best move: Qb7 — queen a8→b7.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move Qxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/p1pp1pp1/1p2pB1p/3b4/2B5/5N2/PPP2PPP/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 11

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