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

Rating 2136 · Expert · defensive move, equality, fork, long, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king f3; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h2; bishop g3; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c4/e6/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bh4 — bishop g3→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bf4 — bishop g5→f4. Opponent replies Rh3+ (rook h2→h3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kg4 — king f3→g4. Opponent replies f5+ (pawn f7→f5, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxh3 — king g4→h3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, fork, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is Bf4.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/1pqn1pp1/p3p1p1/6B1/2pPB3/2P2Kb1/PP3P1r/R2Q1R2 b q - 0 19

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