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

Rating 1296 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rook e8; pawns a2/b3/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen g6; rook d7; pawns a6/b5/c5/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen g6→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook e8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen a8→c6, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
  4. Best move: Qxd7 — queen c6→d7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Rh8+.

Position data

FEN: Q3R3/3r1ppk/p5qp/1pp5/3p4/1P1P3P/P4PP1/6K1 b - - 4 31

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