Chess Puzzle #ae62A — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rooks d3/e6; bishop c4; pawns b3/c3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen b1; rooks c8/f8; bishop c6; pawns a6/b7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Opponent replies Bxg2 (bishop c6→g2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Kxg2 — king h2→g2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc4 (rook c8→c4, captures bishop).
4. Best move: bxc4 — pawn b3→c4, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen b1→d3, captures rook).
5. Best move: h6 — pawn h5→h6. Opponent replies Qf3+ (queen d3→f3, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxf3 — queen f6→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is h5.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1p3p1p/p1b1RQp1/8/2B4P/1PPR4/5PPK/1q6 b - - 2 26

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.