Chess Puzzle #7gH12 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2144 · Expert · attraction, crushing, kingside attack, master, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks c1/e1; bishop f4; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/g8; bishops b6/d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight e3→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g8→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg2 (king g1→g2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rg8+ — rook d8→g8, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, kingside attack, master, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2r1/pp1b3p/1bp2p2/7q/4PB2/2Q1N3/PP3PP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 10 22

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