Chess Puzzle #44sm1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen g4; rooks a1/h1; bishops a3/b3; knight h4; pawns a2/e3/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/c3; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c5/d3/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop b7→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop b3→d5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen d6→d5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxg6 — knight h4→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop c3→g7).
5. Best move: Bb2 — bishop a3→b2. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d5→d7).
6. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, master, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/pb3p2/1p1q2p1/2p5/6QN/BBbpP3/P4PP1/R2K3R b - - 1 17

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