Chess tactic

Crushing Puzzle (1878)

After the setup move Ba6, it is White to move. Find the forcing continuation before checking the solution.

Position after Ba6. White to move.

Puzzle ID

0MxxQ

Rating

1878

Side to move

White

Themes

Crushing, Endgame

Material

Black is ahead by 1 point

FEN

8/6p1/bpk1ppp1/p2pP3/P2P1KPP/1P6/1N6/8 w - - 1 31

What to look for

Find a move that decisively changes the evaluation, usually by force.

31. exf6 31... gxf6 32. h5 32... gxh5 33. gxh5 33... Kd6 34. h6

The full forcing line from the source position is:

30... Ba6 31. exf6 31... gxf6 32. h5 32... gxh5 33. gxh5 33... Kd6 34. h6