Chess Puzzle #Zq9mh — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2509 · Master · attraction, crushing, endgame, exposed king, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; bishop d3; pawns e5/f2/g6/h2. Black: king f8; queen b4; bishops c8/g7; pawns d4/e6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe1+ — queen b4→e1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kg2 — king g1→g2. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  3. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
  4. Best move: Bxd7+ — bishop b5→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e8→d7, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen h4→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
  6. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d4→a4, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, exposed king, very long. The key move Bxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b2k2/6b1/4p1P1/4P3/1q1p3Q/3B4/5P1P/6K1 b - - 1 35

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.