Chess Puzzle #ia2B1 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2521 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king d2; queen h5; rook h1; bishops f1/g3; knight e5; pawns a2/c2/g2/g5. Black: king e7; queen e4; rooks a8/f6; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h5→g5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight d7→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop g3→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen e4→f5).
  4. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop e5→f6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Bxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/pp1nk3/2p1pr1p/3pN1PQ/4q3/6B1/P1PK2P1/5B1R b - - 0 22

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