Chess Puzzle #BgpaT — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2442 · Master · advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king f2; queen e3; rooks a1/d1; knight c4; pawns a2/b3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks c8/d8; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: a3 — pawn a2→a3. Opponent replies Qxb3 (queen b4→b3, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxb3 — queen e3→b3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/pp2pp1p/6p1/5b2/1qN2P2/1P2Q2P/P4KP1/R2R4 b - - 2 21

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