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

Rating 1518 · Intermediate · crushing, discovered attack, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/h8; bishop g5; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights c4/g6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxh8 — knight g6→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop g5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g4→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen g7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Bxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rkR/ppq5/4ppn1/2Np2B1/2nP1PQ1/2P5/PP4PP/R5K1 b - - 1 20

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