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

Rating 2078 · Expert · advanced pawn, advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, middlegame.

Position

White: king d2; rooks b1/e1; bishops c4/e7; knight d5; pawns a2/c2/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d4; knight c5; pawns a6/b7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen b2→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nb6+ — knight d5→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
  3. Best move: d7+ — pawn d6→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd7 (bishop c8→d7, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Bxc5+ — bishop e7→c5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  5. Best move: Bxa3 — bishop c5→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/1p1kBp1p/p2P2p1/2nN4/2Bb4/8/PqPK1PPP/1R2R3 b - - 5 16

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