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

Rating 1888 · Advanced · equality, opening, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knight c3; pawns a3/b6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops e5/f5; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen d8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bb5 — bishop f1→b5. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen a4→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, pin, short. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qk1nr/1p3ppp/pP2p3/3pbb2/Q7/P1N5/3B1PPP/R3KB1R b KQkq - 1 14

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