Chess Puzzle #Zfkqh — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2698 · Master · attraction, crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, interference, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rook e1; bishops d3/e3; pawns a3/b5/g2/h3. Black: king a5; queen f8; rook a8; bishop g7; knights d5/d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight d5→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb4+ — queen c4→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king a5→b6).
  3. Best move: bxc6+ — pawn b5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc6 (king b6→c6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Be4+ — bishop d3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c6→c7).
  5. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen b4→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c7→d8).
  6. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen b7→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, discovered check, interference, middlegame, very long. The key move bxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4q2/pp1np1b1/2p5/kP1n4/2Q5/P2BB2P/6P1/4R1K1 b - - 0 31

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.