Chess Puzzle #e0CVj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2057 · Expert · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d6; rooks d1/e1; bishop d3; knight b3; pawns a3/b2/c2/f6/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g2; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc8 — knight e7→c8. 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: Qd3+ — queen d6→d3, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/3pnppp/p2QpP2/1p6/8/PN1B2P1/1PP3b1/2KRR3 b - - 0 21

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

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