Chess Puzzle #2hOav — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2717 · Master · crushing, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a2/c7; bishop a3; knight f3; pawns c3/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a6; rooks b8/g8; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns a7/e5/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b8→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
  3. Best move: Qf1 — queen a6→f1. Opponent replies Qxg8+ (queen f7→g8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxg8 — king h8→g8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rc8+ (rook c7→c8, gives check).
  5. Best move: Bf8 — bishop g7→f8.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Rb1+.

Position data

FEN: 1r4rk/p1R2Qbp/q1n3p1/4pp2/8/B1P2N2/R2P1PPP/6K1 w - - 7 25

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