Chess Puzzle #PzTwe — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2482 · Master · advantage, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rook c1; bishops d2/f5; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/f7; bishops d5/g7; knight e6; pawns a7/b6/e5/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bb4+ — bishop d2→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Nc5 (knight e6→c5).
  3. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc5 (pawn b6→c5, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxc5+ — bishop b4→c5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  5. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen d8→d6, captures knight).
  6. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop c5→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q4/p3krb1/1p2npQp/1N1bpB2/8/8/PP1B1PP1/2R1K3 b - - 9 23

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