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

Rating 1868 · Advanced · defensive move, discovered attack, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h4. Black: king h8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights b6/c6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d5/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight f4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: Raf1 — rook a1→f1.

Tactical themes

defensive move, discovered attack, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/1p5p/pnn1p3/2ppP3/3P1N1P/2PB4/PP4P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 19

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