Chess Puzzle #HV54A — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1694 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king f2; rooks a2/h1; bishops c1/d3; knight b1; pawns a3/b2/c4/e5/g4/h4. Black: king g8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Be4 — bishop d3→e4. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight b8→d7).
  3. Best move: Bxa8 — bishop e4→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Be4.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp2bppp/4p3/4P3/2Pp2PP/P2B4/RP3K2/1NB4R b - - 0 18

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