Chess Puzzle #1h0qV — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 858 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks a1/a2; pawns c3/d4/e5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen b7; rooks g8/h8; knight a8; pawns b6/c4/d5/e6/f7/h3. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king b8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a2→a8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen b7→a8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a1→a8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Rxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: nk4rr/1q3p2/1p1Qp3/3pP3/2pP4/2P2P1p/R5PP/R5K1 b - - 3 38

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