Chess Puzzle #IVP0c — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king h3; rook c6; bishop h4; knight d6; pawns a2/e5/g4/h2. Black: king f8; queen b2; pawns a6/b5/d5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen b2→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  3. Best move: Ne8+ — knight d6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
  4. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen e5→g5, captures pawn).
  5. Best move: Bxg5+ — bishop h4→g5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Bxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/5p1p/p1RN2p1/1p1pP3/6PB/7K/Pq5P/8 b - - 1 31

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