Chess Puzzle #5HJYS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1302 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen e6; rooks d1/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/h3. Black: king g7; queen b5; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ba3 — bishop f8→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d4→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen b5→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d1→d7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen e6→d7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1b1r/p2n2k1/1p2Q2p/1q4p1/3R4/7P/PPP2P2/1K1R4 b - - 2 27

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