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

Rating 1431 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks e1/f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen g5; rook d8; bishop g7; knight e5; pawns a6/b5/d6/f3/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd3 — knight e5→d3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rfxf8+ — rook f4→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  5. Best move: Rg8+ — rook f8→g8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/6bp/p2pQ3/1p2n1q1/5R2/2P2pP1/PP3P1P/4R1K1 b - - 0 31

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