Chess Puzzle #18JC9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1373 · Intermediate · discovered attack, discovered check, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishop h7; knight f7; pawns a3/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/f6; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf7 — queen e7→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg6+ — bishop h7→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  3. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop g6→f7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/pp2qN1B/4pb1Q/3n4/3p4/P7/1PP2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 9 22

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