Chess Puzzle #2Oln4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 954 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, skewer.

Position

White: king a5; rook h3; bishop c3; pawns a4/b2/c5. Black: king g8; queen b3; bishop c4; pawns a7/d5/e6/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb7 — queen b3→b7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h8→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxb7 — rook h7→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, skewer. The key move is Rh8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p7/4p1p1/K1Pp4/P1b5/1qB4R/1P6/8 b - - 2 37

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