Chess Puzzle #aa5A9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2356 · Expert · advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen h6; rook h1; bishop c4; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops a1/c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen a5→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop c4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop c8→e6, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  5. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp5p/4p1pQ/q1p3N1/2B5/4P3/P3KPPP/bN5R b - - 1 14

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