Chess Puzzle #Bixy9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1987 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g6; queen e6; rooks a8/h6; bishop c5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh5 — rook h6→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen f3→h5, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh5 (king g6→h5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Ng7+ — knight f5→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h5→h6).
  4. Best move: Nxe6 — knight g7→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/ppp5/2npqpkr/2b1pN2/4P3/3P1Q1P/PPP2PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 1 17

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