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

Rating 1293 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, very long.

Position

White: king c2; rook h7; knight f5; pawns a2/b4/e3/f3/h3. Black: king f8; rooks c6/e6; pawns a6/b5/c3/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook e6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g6→g8).
  3. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook h8→g8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king f8→g8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  5. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e7→c6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Rxg8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/5p1R/p1r1r3/1p1p1N2/1P6/2p1PP1P/P1K5/8 b - - 0 32

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