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

Rating 2736 · Master · advantage, defensive move, endgame, long.

Position

White: king e3; rook f6; bishops d1/d4; pawns c3/e5/g2/h3. Black: king h5; queen a3; bishop e8; pawns a2/b5/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh4 — king h5→h4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kf2 — king e3→f2. Opponent replies Qb2+ (queen a3→b2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Be2 — bishop d1→e2. Opponent replies Qxe2+ (queen b2→e2, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxe2 — king f2→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move is Kf2.

Position data

FEN: 4b3/5p2/5R2/1p2P1pk/3B4/q1P1K2P/p5P1/3B4 b - - 4 49

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