Chess Puzzle #6508L — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1417 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king c1; queen f1; rooks d1/d3; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4. Black: king c8; queen g5; rooks d8/e8; bishop b7; pawns a5/b6/c7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen g5→h5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d3→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook e8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/1bp4p/1p4p1/p2N2q1/5P2/3R4/PPP5/2KR1Q2 b - - 0 23

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