Chess Puzzle #4OnCt — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1254 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, interference, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks b1/b7; knight a3; pawns a4/c4/d3/e2/f2/g3. Black: king d7; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; knight f5; pawns a6/c7/d6/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg3 — knight f5→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook b7→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc7 (king d7→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb7+ — queen b3→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c7→d8).
  4. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen b7→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, interference, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/1Rpk1pp1/p2pp3/5n2/P1Pq4/NQ1P2P1/4PP2/1R4K1 b - - 2 19

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