Chess Puzzle #diC8A — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1805 · Advanced · deflection, discovered attack, equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g4/h4. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxg4 — bishop c8→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop g4→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxh6+ — bishop f4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  4. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f1→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

deflection, discovered attack, equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/ppp3k1/1bn3pp/3pP1N1/3P1BPP/2P5/PP1Q4/R4RK1 b - - 0 18

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