Chess Puzzle #9BiWN — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2437 · Master · clearance, crushing, endgame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks e7/g6; pawns a2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks c4/f8; pawns a6/b5/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f4→f3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qg6 — queen g4→g6. Opponent replies Rc1+ (rook c4→c1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Rh1+ (rook c1→h1, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kg3 — king h2→g3. Opponent replies Qe5+ (queen b2→e5, gives check).
  6. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e7→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/4R1p1/p5Rp/1p1P4/2r2pQ1/7P/Pq3PP1/6K1 b - - 1 33

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