Chess Puzzle #03Cow — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1664 · Advanced · attraction, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c1; rooks a1/g4; bishop e1; pawns a2/c3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks d8/f8; bishop b6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g4→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen c1→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/ppp2ppp/1b6/8/4P1R1/2Pq3P/P5P1/R1Q1B2K b - - 1 23

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