Chess Puzzle #eK5e3 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1830 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king f3; queen b3; bishop a3; pawns a5/c4/d3/e4/f5/h2. Black: king c7; queen c6; bishop e7; pawns a6/c5/d4/e5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen b3→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen c6→b6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: axb6+ — pawn a5→b6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb6 (king c7→b6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: fxg6 — pawn f5→g6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move axb6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2k1b1p1/p1q4p/P1p1pP2/2PpP3/BQ1P1K2/7P/8 b - - 5 46

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