Chess Puzzle #Xc3kR — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2068 · Expert · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop e5; knights c4/g1; pawns a3/b3/c2/d3/e3/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks d8/f8; bishops d6/e6; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop e5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: bxc4 — pawn b3→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p1p2ppp/2pbbn2/4B3/2N4q/PP1PPQ1P/2PK4/R5NR b - - 0 17

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