Chess Puzzle #5PMB5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1302 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, kingside attack, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops b3/f2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/f6/h2. Black: king h8; queen h3; rooks a8/f8; bishops c6/g7; pawns a7/b7/c5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen h3→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxg7+ — pawn f6→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bd4+ — bishop f2→d4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, kingside attack, master, middlegame, short. The key move fxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp4bp/2b2Pp1/2p5/8/1BP2P1q/PP1Q1B1P/R4RK1 b - - 0 21

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

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