Chess Puzzle #Ec8bA — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1616 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, master, very long.

Position

White: king f2; bishop e3; knight c1; pawns a4/b3/e5/f4/g5/h4. Black: king g8; bishops c5/e4; pawns a5/b4/c6/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxe3+ — bishop c5→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kxe3 — king f2→e3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bd5 (bishop e4→d5).
  3. Best move: Kd4 — king e3→d4. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Kc5 — king d4→c5. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  5. Best move: Kb6 — king c5→b6.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, very long. The key move Kxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p2/2p1p1p1/p1b1P1Pp/Pp2bP1P/1P2B3/5K2/2N5 b - - 1 33

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