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

Rating 1822 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook a1; bishops d2/d3; pawns a3/b2/c4/d4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen e7; rook a8; bishop f6; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bb4 — bishop d2→b4. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen e7→b4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bb4.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/pp2qpp1/1np2b1p/3p4/2PP2Q1/P2B3P/1P1B2P1/R5K1 b - - 0 26

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