Chess Puzzle #5D2xM — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · advantage, opening, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/g5; knights c3/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/b7/c7/d7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxh1 (rook h8→h1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, short. The key move hxg5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/1pppnpp1/p1n2q1p/2b1p1B1/4P2P/2NP1PN1/PPP3P1/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 1 8

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