Chess Puzzle #bson5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f8; rook f5; bishop g7; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/g2/h2. Black: king d5; queen g4; rook a8; bishop c8; knight e2; pawns a7/b7/g5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf5 — bishop c8→f5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c4+ — pawn c3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d5→c6).
3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f8→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop f5→e6).
4. Best move: Nxe6 — knight c5→e6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ng3+ (knight e2→g3, gives check).
5. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen g4→d1, gives check).
6. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is c4+.

Position data

FEN: r1b2Q2/pp4B1/8/2Nk1Rp1/6q1/2PP4/PP2n1PP/7K b - - 0 33

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