Chess Puzzle #3Adys — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1201 · Intermediate · advantage, interference, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/e1; bishops c2/e5; pawns a3/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; bishop d5; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight g6→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  4. Best move: Rxe5+ — rook e1→e5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, interference, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3pp1/1qp3np/3bBQ2/8/P1P5/1PB2PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 4 25

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