Chess Puzzle #31Szz — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1253 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks d1/f1; bishop d3; knight g5; pawns a3/e5/f2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight e7; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p2npp1/4p2p/p2pP1NQ/3q2P1/P2B4/5P1P/3R1RK1 b - - 2 18

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