Chess Puzzle #35NFn — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2246 · Expert · advantage, attraction, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king b1; queen g2; rooks g1/g6; knight e2; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/e5. Black: king e7; queen f4; rooks f8/h8; knights b6/e6; pawns a6/b7/c4/d5/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen f4→f2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe6+ — rook g6→e6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king e7→e6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e6→d7).
  4. Best move: Qxb6 — queen g6→b6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Rxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1r/1p2k3/pn2n1R1/3pP2p/2pP1q2/P7/1PP1N1Q1/1K4R1 b - - 4 33

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