Chess Puzzle #dVM6F — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2347 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king d2; queen g6; rook h1; bishops c1/c4; pawns a2/b2/d3/g3/g5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/g4; knight a1; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be3+ — bishop b6→e3, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ke1 — king d2→e1. Opponent replies Nc2+ (knight a1→c2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf1 — king e1→f1. Opponent replies Qxd3+ (queen d8→d3, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxd3 — queen g6→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Ke1.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/ppp2pp1/1b4Q1/4p1P1/2B3b1/3P2P1/PP1K4/n1B4R b - - 0 18

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