Chess Puzzle #8dmbg — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2253 · Expert · advantage, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks e1/e5; pawns a3/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; knight f4; pawns a5/d5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg3+ — queen c3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Ng6 (knight f4→g6).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qxc7 — queen g3→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/2q2p1p/8/p2pR3/2P2n2/P1Q4P/5PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 28

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