Chess Puzzle #A2qVw — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2064 · Expert · crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks f1/f4; bishop g2; pawns a2/c2/e5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks c8/f8; bishop b4; pawns a5/b6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen b2→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f4→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen e5→d5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop g2→d5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/5ppp/1p1p4/p2QP3/1b3R2/6P1/PqP3BP/5R1K b - - 2 20

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