Chess Puzzle #BEO31 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1722 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rook c8; pawns e5/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen b4; rook b3; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb1+ — rook b3→b1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Rh1+ (rook b1→h1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxh1 — king h2→h1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen b4→e1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg2 — king h1→g2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Kh2.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/1pQ2p1k/p3p1pp/4P3/1q6/1r4PP/5P2/6K1 b - - 1 34

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