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

Rating 1579 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook e1; bishop f2; knight h5; pawns a3/b2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d4; rook d7; bishop f5; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen d4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bc5+ — bishop f2→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Bc5+.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/1p1r2pp/2n1p3/p3PbQN/3q4/P6P/1P3BP1/4R1K1 b - - 1 31

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