Chess Puzzle #2OGbm — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1659 · Advanced · advantage, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f2; queen g5; rooks c1/h1; bishop c2; knight d2; pawns a2/e5/f4/g2. Black: king f8; queen c3; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen g5→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook h8→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1rk2/pp1n1pp1/4p3/3pP1Q1/2p2P2/2q5/P1BN1KP1/2R4R b - - 1 20

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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