Chess Puzzle #Z1v35 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen g4; rook a1; bishops c1/c4; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/h2. Black: king c6; queen h1; rooks a8/h8; knights e7/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb6 — king c6→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be3+ — bishop c1→e3, gives check. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c7→c5).
3. Best move: dxc6+ — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc6 (king b6→c6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop c4→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb5 (king c6→b5, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Na3+ — knight b1→a3, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, en passant, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move dxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5nr/ppp1n2p/2kp4/3P4/2B3Q1/2P5/PP3K1P/RNB4q b - - 0 15

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