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

Rating 2197 · Expert · equality, long, opening.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop b5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: c4 — pawn c2→c4. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
  4. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, long, opening. The key move Bxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp3pp/2n5/1B1n4/4p3/4P1P1/PPP2PP1/RN1QK2R b KQkq - 1 12

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