Chess Puzzle #2Cew8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1276 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rooks a1/g5; bishop c4; pawns a3/c3/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b6; pawns a6/b4/b7/d6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  3. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen h4→e7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/1p2qp2/pb1p2p1/6R1/1pB1P1Q1/P1PP3P/6P1/R6K b - - 1 23

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