Chess Puzzle #CEsgi — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1979 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen b3; rooks g1/h1; bishop c4; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g6; knight b8; pawns a7/b5/c6/d6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb7 — queen b3→b7. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight b8→d7).
  3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen b7→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb7.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/p4pp1/2pp1qb1/1p2p3/2B1P3/1QPP1P2/PP1N4/2K3RR b - - 0 18

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