Chess Puzzle #c4Yrx — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1801 · Advanced · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, opening, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c3/d3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures bishop. 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.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bqr1k1/ppp2ppp/2n5/3nN3/3P4/2BB4/PPP3PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 12

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