Chess Puzzle #M85Ly — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1442 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a7; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishops e6/e7; knight d4; pawns b5/d6/e5/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop e6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop g5→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen d8→b6).
  3. Best move: Qxb6 — queen a7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Bxe7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qk2r/Q3bp2/3pb3/1p1Pp1B1/3n4/8/PPP2PPP/2KR1B1R b k - 0 17

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