Discovered attack: pawn to d3
li-04DutThe tactical motive
Discovered attack: one piece steps aside, unleashing another's attack.
Difficulty 1554 ShuffleRating — club-player level.
Black to move — find the best continuation
Position on the board
White: king e2, bishop c5, pawn a2 c2 g2 b3 h3.
Black: king e5, bishop e3, pawn d4 f4 h5 a6 c6.
7 white and 7 black pieces are on the board; the puzzle position arises after move 37.
Solution & explanation
Main line
37... d3+ 38. Kxd3 Bxc5
Why it works
- Great move! pawn to d3 keeps the pressure (+5.4).
- Well found: bishop to c5 (+5.3).
- You win decisive material (+5.3).
- If instead Kxd3, then Bxc5 and you stay on top.
Types in this puzzle
Clearance
Clear your own piece out of the way — with tempo — for the decisive blow.
Clearance is about your own piece standing in the way of the decisive blow — so you move it aside, or even throw it away. The key is to clear with tempo: jump off with a check, a capture or a threat, giving the opponent no time to regroup. The telltale sign: you see a crushing queen or rook move, but one of your own pieces blocks the line or occupies the square. Do not cling to it — a clearance sacrifice usually costs less than a missed attack.
Minor-piece endgame
Bishops and knights duel — geometry decides.
A minor-piece endgame leaves only bishops and knights with pawns, and geometry decides. The bishop loves an open board and play on both wings; the knight loves fixed pawns and outpost squares. Check which color squares the pawns stand on and where the knight can actually reach in time. Practical tip: against a knight, spread the play across both flanks — short legs cannot cover everything.
Provenance
Derived from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0).
Verified by Stockfish at depth 20+.
Solution forcedness confirmed (verified).
Pack 011
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