Chess Puzzle #49BVZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1548 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/e1; bishop c2; knights f4/h4; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights e7/f6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g6→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh5+ — knight f4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh5 (knight f6→h5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
  4. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h7→h6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1b2npk1/pq2pnpp/1p6/3P1N1N/P2Q4/1PB2PPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 4 22

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