Chess Puzzle #v7l0p — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2427 · Master · advantage, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook e3; bishop c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook a8; knights c6/g5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne6 — knight g5→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Bxe6 — bishop c4→e6, captures knight. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rg3+ — rook e3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  5. Best move: Qg6 — queen c2→g6. Opponent replies Qf7 (queen d7→f7).
  6. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  7. Best move: Rg7 — rook g3→g7.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pppq1pp1/2np3p/3N2n1/2B5/4R3/PPQ2PPP/6K1 b - - 0 18

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