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

Rating 1656 · Advanced · crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/g5. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3 — rook e3→h3. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
  3. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies Qxg6 (queen d6→g6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Qxg6 — queen h5→g6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rh3.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1n1pp1/2pq4/6PQ/3P4/4R3/PPP2PP1/R5K1 b - - 4 17

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