Chess Puzzle #22IV8 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1177 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, exposed king, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king f1; rook g3; knight f6; pawns b4/c3/e5/f2. Black: king h8; rooks c2/f8; pawns b6/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3+ — rook g3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  5. Best move: Rxc8 — rook h8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, skewer, very long. The key move is Rh3+.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/5p2/1p3Np1/3pP3/1P6/2P3R1/2r2P2/5K2 b - - 1 34

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