Chess Puzzle #9qX20 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1800 · Advanced · endgame, equality, short.

Position

White: king h1; rooks b1/e2; bishops d2/e4; pawns c2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; rooks c3/c8; bishop d6; pawns a4/b2/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop d2→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c8→c3, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rxb2 — rook b1→b2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move Bxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/3bp2p/3p4/p2PB3/2r4P/1pPBRPP1/1R5K b - - 0 32

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