Chess Puzzle #99RyF — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2452 · Master · attraction, crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks g1/h3; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/e3/e5/f2/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks b8/c5; knight b6; pawns a6/c4/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb5 — queen d7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7 — rook h3→h7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
  4. Best move: Nxf7 — knight g5→f7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/3q1p1p/pn2p1p1/2rpP3/2p2P2/2P1PN1R/P1Q2P1P/2K3R1 b - - 1 27

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