Chess Puzzle #PnfH1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2324 · Expert · crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen g2; rook f1; bishops c5/d7; pawns b4/c4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b3; rook a8; bishops b7/h6; pawns d5/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Be6+ — bishop d7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop c5→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop h6→g7).
  4. Best move: Bxg7+ — bishop d4→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qg5 — queen g2→g5. Opponent replies Qxh3+ (queen b3→h3, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: Bxh3 — bishop e6→h3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1b1B3p/6pb/2Bp4/1PP1p3/1q5P/6Q1/5R1K b - - 1 42

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