Chess Puzzle #3PDEc — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop d3; pawns c4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks c8/f8; bishop d5; knight d7; pawns a6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop d5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/3n1ppp/p3p3/3bP3/2Pq4/3B4/6PP/R2QR2K b - - 0 22

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