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

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks b1/c2; bishops b2/h3; pawns c5/e3. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks a2/f8; bishop d7; pawns d5/e6/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ba4 — bishop d7→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop h3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
3. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop e6→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Bxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3b3p/4pppQ/2Pp4/8/3qP2B/rBR5/1RK5 b - - 0 36

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