Chess Puzzle #h4SYu — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2686 · Master · crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king e1; queen c1; rooks a1/h1; bishops h5/h6; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knight d4; pawns a6/b5/c5/e5/e6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen c1→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxc2+ (knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kf1 — king e1→f1. Opponent replies Rxf2+ (rook f8→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg1 — king f1→g1. Opponent replies Bg5 (bishop e7→g5).
  5. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h6→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1b2b1p1/p3p1PB/1pp1p2B/3nP3/P1NP4/1PP2P2/R1Q1K2R b KQ - 0 19

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