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

Rating 1324 · Intermediate · crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e3; pawns a4/c3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; knight b8; pawns a5/b7/c4/e5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen c7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg3+ — rook e3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Qf5+ — queen h5→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  4. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen f5→e5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/1pq2p2/7p/p3p2Q/P1p1P3/2P1R2P/5PP1/R5K1 b - - 1 18

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