Chess Puzzle #9zaNr — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1778 · Advanced · crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks e1/f4; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen g7; rooks d5/h8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b5/c6/f5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h5→g6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg6 (king f7→g6, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b4r/5kq1/p1p5/1pPr1p2/3P1R2/5Q2/PP4PP/4R1K1 b - - 3 30

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