Chess Puzzle #SMNM5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1948 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c2; queen h8; bishop d2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen a1; rook a8; bishop c8; knight e8; pawns a7/b7/c4/c5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg5+ — bishop d2→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
  3. Best move: Qf8 — queen h8→f8.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Bg5+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1n2Q/pp2k1p1/4p3/2p5/2p1N3/8/PPKB2PP/q7 b - - 1 26

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