Chess Puzzle #8Ul9Q — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1518 · Intermediate · advantage, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook a1; bishops d5/f4; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/f5/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/f8; bishops b7/e7; pawns a6/b4/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd6 — bishop e7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop f4→d6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen c7→d6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Bxb7 — bishop d5→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b8→b7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Qxb7 — queen f3→b7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, master, middlegame. The key move Bxd6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/1bq1bppp/p7/2pB1PP1/NpP2B2/3P1Q1P/PP6/R5K1 b - - 2 21

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