Chess Puzzle #5S7Os — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2545 · Master · advanced pawn, crushing, exposed king, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rook f1; bishop h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d5; rooks a8/e6; bishop c6; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook a8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop h4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook e6→f6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  5. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  6. Best move: f7+ — pawn f6→f7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, exposed king, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6k/p1p5/1pb1rnQ1/3qP3/3P3B/2P5/PP4PP/5RK1 b - - 3 29

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