Chess Puzzle #AuVn1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2212 · Expert · collinear move, crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen d3; rooks h1/h5; knight f3; pawns a4/b2/c5/d4/f2. Black: king g7; queen g4; rooks e8/f8; bishop g5; knight c6; pawns a5/b4/d5/f6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook h8→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Qg6 — queen d3→g6.

Tactical themes

collinear move, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rr2/6k1/2n2p2/p1Pp2bR/Pp1P2q1/3Q1N2/1P3P2/5K1R b - - 0 36

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