Chess Puzzle #4wK32 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2098 · Expert · equality, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen c6; rook d1; knight h3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d7/e4. Black: king f8; queen g2; rooks c8/h8; knight f6; pawns c7/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook c8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen c6→c7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
  4. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  5. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook d8→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k1r/2pP1pp1/2Q2n2/4p3/4P3/7N/PPP3q1/2KR4 b - - 0 28

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