Chess Puzzle #5Yupo — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2409 · Master · crushing, defensive move, middlegame, queenside attack, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen d6; rooks c1/c5; bishop b1; pawns a3/b4/e5/f4/g3. Black: king c8; queen b6; rooks d8/g8; bishops a7/c6; pawns a6/b5/d7/e6/h3. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb7 — queen b6→b7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook c5→c6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies dxc6 (pawn d7→c6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook c1→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen b7→c6, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen d6→c6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  5. Best move: Kxh3 — king h2→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rh8+ (rook g8→h8, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kg4 — king h3→g4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The key move Rxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2r1/b2p4/pqbQp3/1pR1P3/1P3P2/P5Pp/7K/1BR5 b - - 4 32

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