Chess Puzzle #8zPbQ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2338 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks a1/f1; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen e5; rooks a8/g7; bishop e7; pawns a6/d5/e6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen h7→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rag8 — rook a8→g8. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
  3. Best move: Rxg3+ — rook g7→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f2→g3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxg3+ — rook g8→g3, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move Rxg3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/3kb1rQ/p3p3/3pq3/8/P1N4P/1P3PP1/R4RK1 w - - 1 23

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