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

Rating 1462 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops e4/f4; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d4; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb2 — bishop d4→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb3+ — queen d1→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen b3→b2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qb3+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp4pp/2p5/4Pn2/3bBB2/7P/PP3PP1/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 18

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