Chess Puzzle #HXb6n — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2008 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, skewer.

Position

White: king b1; queen g7; rook h1; bishop d3; knight b2; pawns a2/b3/d4/f4/g3/g4. Black: king e7; queen d2; rooks d8/e8; knight b6; pawns a5/b7/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
  3. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
  4. Best move: Bxe8 — bishop b5→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: 3rr3/1p2kpQ1/1n4p1/p2p4/3P1PP1/1P1B2P1/PN1q4/1K5R b - - 2 31

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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