Chess Puzzle #IxMYL — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2572 · Master · crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen h4; rooks f1/f3; bishop c2; pawns a2/c3/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/c4/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxg6 — bishop c2→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh6 — queen h4→h6. Opponent replies Rxf3 (rook f8→f3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h6→g6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1b3p2/pq1p2p1/1p1n2P1/2p4Q/2P2R1P/P1B4K/5R2 b - - 3 25

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