Chess Puzzle #3HCR5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1182 · Beginner · crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rook f1; bishop d5; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/g3/h3. Black: king g7; queen d6; rook f8; bishop d7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g6→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nh5+ — knight f4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
  3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f2→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d6→f8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f1→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pp1b2kp/3q2p1/2pBn3/3p1N2/2PP2PP/PP3Q1K/5R2 b - - 3 24

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