Chess Puzzle #95dbS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1481 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen g2; rooks e2/g3; knight e5; pawns a3/b4/c5/f4/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks d1/d8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: R8d4 — rook d8→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g2→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g6→f6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/ppq3kp/2p2np1/2P1Np2/1P3P2/P5RP/4R1QK/3r4 b - - 7 38

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