Chess Puzzle #967Go — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1577 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame, skewer.

Position

White: king f2; queen h7; rooks c1/h5; bishop b1; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/e3/f3/g2. Black: king f8; queen f6; rooks c8/e8; bishop e6; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/f7/g5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop e6→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook e8→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  4. Best move: Qxc8 — queen h8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1rk2/p4ppQ/1p2bq2/n2N2pR/8/1P2PP2/P4KP1/1BR5 b - - 0 26

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