Chess Puzzle #9FAuo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1447 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishops e3/f5; pawns a3/b2/c2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen h4→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop f5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp2ppp/2nb4/5B2/7q/P3BQP1/1PP4P/3R1RK1 b - - 0 19

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