Chess Puzzle #3rD97 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1856 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks c1/c7; bishop a3; pawns a4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks d8/e8; bishop g6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d2→e2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook c7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
  4. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h4→f6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/ppR3p1/4ppb1/8/P6Q/B6P/3q1PP1/2R3K1 b - - 4 27

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