Chess Puzzle #ma55v — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks d4/e2; bishop b1; pawns e5/f6/g2/h5. Black: king h7; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a5/b3/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ba6 — bishop c8→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: hxg6+ — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Bxg6+ — bishop b1→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Re3 — rook e2→e3. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen c3→c1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move hxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/3n1p1k/4pPpp/p2pP2P/3R1Q2/1pq5/4R1P1/1B4K1 b - - 1 27

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