Chess Puzzle #MA7KS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1593 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, exposed king, hanging piece, kingside attack, long.

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rook a2; bishop h6; knight g6; pawns a4/b3/c3/d3/e4/g3. Black: king g8; queen h7; rooks f7/f8; bishop f2; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e5/e6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh6 — queen h7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
  3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxf8+ — knight g6→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, exposed king, hanging piece, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1pp2r1q/2npp1NB/p3p2Q/P3P3/1PPP2P1/R4b1K/8 b - - 6 27

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