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

Rating 1489 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks d1/f1; bishop d2; pawns a2/f3/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks b2/f8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/d3/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook b2→d2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h3→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd4+ (queen d7→d4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d4→f6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h6→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1b1q1p2/p3pP1p/1p4p1/8/3p1P1Q/Pr1B2PP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 29

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