Chess Puzzle #33ofe — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1297 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks c1/d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen a7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook f8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg3+ — rook d3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook g3→g8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, master, middlegame. The key move Rxg8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/qp1nbpk1/p3p3/7Q/8/2NR3P/PP3PP1/2R3K1 b - - 1 20

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