I left you with this wild position on Monday which I came across while annotating a game for the next Chess Heroes book but one.

It has occurred several times over the board as well.

White is a bishop down, there are several pieces hanging and two dangerous pawns heading for promotion.

The natural continuation is 17. fxe7 cxb2+ 18. Kb1 Bxd1 19. exf8+ which simplifies to an approximately equal position.

There’s something better, though.

Consider the extraordinary quiet move 17. h3, attacking the pinned bishop on g4. Now play might continue 17… cxb2+ 18. Kb1 Bxf6 19. hxg4, when Black is two pawns ahead but, according to my computer, White’s threats on the h-file provide, if you play with the accuracy of an engine, a winning advantage.

If you even considered h3 I’m very impressed. It has been played over the board a few times, as has fxe7. Congratulations to Andy from West London Chess Club, who was the first to contact me with the correct answer.