Chess Puzzle #aXnnK — Master, White to move, opening

Rating 2722 · Master · clearance, crushing, defensive move, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen h5; rooks h1/h2; bishops a2/h6; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f3/g5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e5; knights e6/g6; pawns a4/b5/c7/d6/f4/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight e6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e5→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Bg5 — bishop h6→g5. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen f6→g7).
  5. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen g7→h7, captures queen).
  6. Best move: Rxh7 — rook h2→h7, captures queen. Opponent replies Re6 (rook e8→e6).
  7. Best move: Bxe6 — bishop a2→e6, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe6 (knight d4→e6, captures bishop).
  8. Best move: Bf6 — bishop g5→f6.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, defensive move, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqr1k1/2p2p1p/3pn1nB/1p1Nb1PQ/p3Pp2/P4P2/BPP3KR/7R b - - 11 29

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