Chess Puzzle #otnyf — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2570 · Master · equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a5; rook b1; bishops e1/e2; pawns a4/d5/e4/f3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks g8/h8; bishop g1; pawns b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/h3. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb7 (king b8→b7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bb5 — bishop e2→b5.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k3rr/1ppq1p2/3p4/Q2Pp3/P3P3/5P1p/4B3/1R2B1bK b - - 1 30

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