Chess Puzzle #O4EOj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2241 · Expert · equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; rooks d2/h1; bishop f4; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rook h8; bishops c4/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxb3 — bishop c4→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: axb3 — pawn a2→b3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a5→a1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nb1 — knight c3→b1.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move axb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/pp3ppp/5n2/q1p5/2b2B2/1PN2N2/PP1R1PPP/2K4R b k - 0 15

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