Chess Puzzle #0iL9Y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1203 · Intermediate · advantage, defensive move, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks f2/g1; pawns a2/b3/c2/f3/g6/h5. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks g7/g8; knight e3; pawns a7/c6/d5/f4/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxh5 — queen e5→h5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh2 — rook f2→h2. Opponent replies Rxg6 (rook g7→g6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxh5 — rook h2→h5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg1+ (rook g6→g1, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kb2 — king b1→b2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, master, middlegame. The key move is Rh2.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/p5r1/2p3Pp/3pq2P/5p2/1P2nP2/P1P1QR2/1K4R1 b - - 3 42

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