Chess Puzzle #iO0iU — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1818 · Advanced · advanced pawn, advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, kingside attack, middlegame.

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knight c1; pawns a2/b3/c2/f3/g6/h6. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/c8; bishops e6/e7; knight c3; pawns a3/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight c3→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: gxh7+ — pawn g6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move gxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/1pq1bppp/4b1PP/4p3/8/pPn1BP2/P1PQB3/K1NR3R b - - 2 23

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