Chess Puzzle #1jHR3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1301 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks f1/h3; knight e5; pawns a2/c2/c3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; bishop e4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxc2 — bishop e4→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight e5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f7→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Rh8+.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp4p1/3q1n2/3pN3/3QbP2/2P4R/P1P3PP/5RK1 b - - 0 22

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