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

Rating 2151 · Expert · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks e1/f1; bishop b3; knight g4; pawns a3/b2/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks c8/f8; bishop g5; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/d3/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d2 — pawn d3→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures bishop. Opponent replies dxe1=R (pawn d2→e1, captures rook, promotes to rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h6→g6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/pp3pk1/6np/6bQ/3q2NP/PB1p4/1P4P1/4RR1K b - - 0 27

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