Chess Puzzle #7mz8q — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1541 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks g1/g4; bishops c2/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/h2. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks a8/g8; bishops c6/f6; pawns a7/b5/c5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop f6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh4+ — rook g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen f7→h5).
  4. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h4→h5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/p4qpp/2b2b2/1pp3B1/4P1R1/2P4Q/PPB4P/6RK b - - 3 27

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