Chess Puzzle #CECH3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1451 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks d1/f1; bishops b7/f4; pawns a2/b2/c4/e5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knights e6/g8; pawns a7/b6/c7/e7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe3+ — queen c5→e3, captures queen, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe3 — bishop f4→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook a8→b8).
  3. Best move: Bd5 — bishop b7→d5.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Bxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4knr/pBp1p1b1/1p2n2p/2q1P3/2P2B2/4QP1P/PP4P1/3R1RK1 b - - 0 21

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