Chess Puzzle #6L1BE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1431 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice.

Position

White: king d2; queen a3; rooks c3/h5; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/f4. Black: king c8; queen h7; rooks d8/h8; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook c3→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxa6+ — queen a3→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
  4. Best move: Qa7+ — queen a6→a7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Rxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1p1n1ppq/p1p1p2p/3pP2R/3P1P2/Q1R5/PPPKN3/8 b - - 1 23

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