Chess Puzzle #IB8oq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1564 · Intermediate · crushing, defensive move, endgame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen e7; rook d1; bishop b3; pawns a2/e2/f3. Black: king h8; queen d4; rook f5; bishop h3; pawns b4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc5+ — rook f5→c5, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kb1 — king c2→b1. Opponent replies Qxd1+ (queen d4→d1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bxd1 — bishop b3→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, short. The key move is Kb1.

Position data

FEN: 7k/4Q2p/6p1/5r2/1p1q4/1B3P1b/P1K1P3/3R4 b - - 5 32

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