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

Rating 1552 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks a1/g3; bishop b3; knight e2; pawns a2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks c8/d8; bishop d7; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/f4/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop d7→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg4+ — rook g3→g4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg4 (bishop e6→g4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/pp1b1p1p/7q/3Q4/5pn1/1BP3RP/P3N1P1/R5K1 b - - 1 22

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