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

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/c6/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d6; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxb7 — pawn c6→b7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxb3 (bishop e6→b3, captures queen).
3. Best move: bxa8=Q — pawn b7→a8, captures rook, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, equality, opening, promotion, short, trapped piece. The key move cxb7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnb3nr/pp3kpp/2Pb1q2/8/8/1Q6/PPPP1PPP/RNB1K2R b KQ - 2 9

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