Chess Puzzle #DPO16 — Expert, White to move, opening

Rating 2090 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen a3; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/e2; knight f3; pawns a5/c5/d4/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c2/f8; bishops e4/e7; knight d7; pawns a7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop e4→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf3 — bishop e2→f3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook c2→d2, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qc3 — queen a3→c3. Opponent replies Rxd4 (rook d2→d4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move Bxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1qnbppp/2p1p3/P1Pp4/3PbP2/Q3PN2/2rBB1PP/R4RK1 b - - 4 18

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