Chess Puzzle #VBpUM — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1997 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop g5; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/c2/d3/e4/g2/h4. Black: king f7; queen b6; rook a8; bishops c8/d4; knights a5/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop g5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Nc4 (knight a5→c4).
  3. Best move: dxc4 — pawn d3→c4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Bxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/pp3kpp/1qpp1n2/n3p1B1/1P1bP2P/P1NP4/2PQ2P1/R4K1R b - - 3 14

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