Chess Puzzle #3ZvYC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1747 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king e2; queen b5; rooks f1/h1; bishop e5; pawns c3/d4/e3/h3. Black: king f7; queen e4; rooks c8/h8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf6+ — rook f1→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen b5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f7→g6).
  4. Best move: Rg1+ — rook h1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g6→f5).
  5. Best move: Rf1+ — rook g1→f1, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/pp3kp1/4pp2/1Q1pB3/3Pq3/2P1P2P/4K3/5R1R b - - 3 26

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