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

Rating 1903 · Advanced · advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks b5/d5; pawns e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks b2/f8; bishop b8; pawns f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen d6→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7 — rook d5→d7. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a3→a1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kg2 — king g1→g2. Opponent replies Rxf2+ (rook b2→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxf2 — king g2→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Rd7.

Position data

FEN: 1b3rk1/6pp/3q1p2/1R1R4/6Q1/4P1P1/1r3P1P/6K1 b - - 0 30

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