Chess Puzzle #8ecNz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1676 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen a3; rooks f1/f3; bishop b5; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d4; rooks g7/g8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e6/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen d4→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa3 (queen b4→a3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop c6→d7, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The key move Bxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/pppb2rp/2n1p3/1B1p1p2/3q4/Q4RN1/PPP3PP/1K3R2 b - - 1 21

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