Chess Puzzle #Lz4SZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen g4; rook e1; bishop c3; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c4/g2/h4. Black: king h7; queen c6; rook a8; bishops c5/g6; knight d7; pawns a7/b5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen c6→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: hxg6+ — pawn h5→g6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move hxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/p2n1ppk/2q3b1/1pbN4/2P3QP/P1B5/KP4P1/4R3 b - - 0 26

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