Chess Puzzle #I9LVj — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1507 · Intermediate · advantage, clearance, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/f1; bishop g6; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e8; rook a8; bishops c8/d6; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg6 — queen e8→g6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen h4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop d6→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rf1 — rook a1→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1q1k1/pppn2pp/3bp1B1/8/3P2pQ/7P/PPPN2P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 16

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