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

Rating 2216 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen c1; rook b1; bishops d2/e2; knight a4; pawns a3/c4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen a5→a4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bd1 — bishop e2→d1. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen a4→c4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c1→c4, captures queen. Opponent replies bxc4 (pawn b5→c4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxb7 — rook b1→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Bd1.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1b3pp1/p3p2p/qp2P3/N1P5/P6P/3BB1P1/1RQ1K3 b - - 0 23

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