Chess Puzzle #E2K8L — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1458 · Intermediate · advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/d6; knights b3/c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; bishops c4/g7; pawns a5/b7/c6/f5/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook d6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc7 — queen g3→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/1pq2pb1/2pR3p/p4p2/2b1P3/1NN3QP/PPP3P1/3R2K1 b - - 0 23

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