Chess Puzzle #5IB0y — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1406 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a7/f1; pawns b4/c3/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen g3; rooks f6/h4; pawns b7/c7/d6/e5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen e2→f2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh3 (pawn g2→h3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qh2 (queen f2→h2).
  4. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen h3→f1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long, sacrifice. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/Rpp3pk/3p1r1p/4p3/1P2P2r/2P2PqP/4Q1P1/5R1K w - - 1 28

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