Chess Puzzle #8M79O — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook a7; bishop c5; pawns c2/c3/d4/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rook h8; bishop e6; knight c4; pawns b5/c6/d5/f5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight c4→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxb6 — bishop c5→b6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen d8→b6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
4. Best move: Rxh8 — rook a8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Bxb6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3qk2r/R4pp1/2p1b2p/1pBpPp2/2nP1P2/2PQ2P1/2P4P/6K1 b k - 2 20

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