Chess Puzzle #aA3NN — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2275 · Expert · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, opening, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/d3; knight a3; pawns c2/d5/f4/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight c5; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Bxg7 — bishop b2→g7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures bishop).
  5. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  6. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, opening, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/p3bppp/2p5/2nP2P1/5P2/N2B3P/1BP5/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 15

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