Chess Puzzle #AHeuq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1457 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops e3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d8/f8; bishops e7/f5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop c5→b4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is b4.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp2bppp/4p3/q2p1b2/8/2P1BB1P/PP3PP1/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 16

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