Chess Puzzle #ezPK1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1931 · Advanced · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/e2; pawns a2/b2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks c8/h8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bc5 (bishop f8→c5).
  3. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop e2→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
  4. Best move: Bb4 — bishop d2→b4. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen d8→b6).
  5. Best move: Bxc5+ — bishop b4→c5, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Bxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqkb1r/pp3ppp/2n1p3/3pP3/5P2/3Q4/PP1BB1PP/R4RK1 b k - 5 16

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