Chess Puzzle #BwYI8 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1858 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king f2; queen c3; rooks a1/f1; bishop g2; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/c4/g3. Black: king g7; queen h2; rooks b8/h3; bishop d7; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/e6/f5/g4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1 — rook f1→h1. Opponent replies Qxg3+ (queen h2→g3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxg3 — queen c3→g3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg3 (rook h3→g3, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Kxg3 — king f2→g3, captures rook. Opponent replies f4+ (pawn f5→f4, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kf2 — king g3→f2.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, very long. The key move is Rh1.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/pp1b2k1/3Np3/5p2/2Pn2p1/2Q3Pr/PP3KBq/R4R2 b - - 1 26

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