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

Rating 2460 · Master · crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king d1; queen c2; bishops b2/f7; knight f4; pawns a3/b3/e3/f2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c8; rook a8; bishop e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a5/b7/c7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd7+ — queen c8→d7, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd5 — bishop f7→d5. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qg6 — queen c2→g6. Opponent replies Qxd5+ (queen d7→d5, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f4→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Bd5.

Position data

FEN: r1q5/1pp1bBk1/2n2n2/p7/5N2/PP2P2P/1BQ2P2/3K4 b - - 0 22

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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