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

Rating 1873 · Advanced · discovered attack, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks d1/f1; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks c8/f8; bishops d7/e7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc6 — bishop d7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1p1bbppp/p3p3/3q4/4N3/P2B4/1P2Q1PP/3R1R1K b - - 3 20

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

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