Chess Puzzle #9D1pY — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2275 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks d1/f1; bishop d4; pawns a3/b2/c3/f6/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks e5/f8; bishop c5; pawns a6/b5/c4/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd4+ — bishop c5→d4, captures bishop, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f8→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move cxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/6pp/p1q2P2/1pbpr3/2pB4/P1P5/1P4QP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 25

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