Chess Puzzle #GlWVR — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1973 · Advanced · clearance, crushing, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knight e7; pawns a7/c4/d5/f5/g4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight d2→c4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h8→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh2 (queen e2→h2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rh8 — rook a8→h8.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p3nk2/5q2/2bp1p2/2p3p1/2P3P1/PP1NQ2P/R1B1R2K w - - 2 22

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