Chess Puzzle #8J2Fy — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2468 · Master · crushing, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king a1; queen a7; rooks d1/e1; pawns a3/b2/g2/h4. Black: king e7; queen e5; rook h8; bishops d7/e3; pawns b5/d4/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd8 — king e7→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e1→e3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen e5→e3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb8+ — queen a7→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop d7→c8).
  4. Best move: Qd6+ — queen b8→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d8→e8).
  5. Best move: Qg6+ — queen d6→g6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 7r/Q2bk3/8/1p2q2p/3p3P/P3b3/1P4P1/K2RR3 b - - 2 32

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