Chess Puzzle #BXrHV — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; rook d1; bishops c3/d3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g8; rook d8; knights c6/e8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop c3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd4 (rook d8→d4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, endgame, long. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rn1k1/ppp2ppp/2n5/8/3P4/2BB1P1P/PP3P2/3R2K1 b - - 1 18

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