Chess Puzzle #C0qOo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1452 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/e1; bishops d5/h4; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/g8; bishops e5/g4; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd4 — bishop e5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop d5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe3 (bishop d4→e3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop c6→d7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Bxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k1r1/pppq1p2/2np4/3Bb3/4P1bB/4Q1P1/PP3P1P/R3R1K1 b q - 4 20

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