Chess Puzzle #23bvH — Expert, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h6+ — pawn h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qf6 — queen f3→f6. Opponent replies Nef5 (knight e7→f5).
4. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen f6→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/1pp1npkp/p1np2p1/4p2P/2B1P3/2NP1Q2/PPP2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 13

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.