Chess Puzzle #IaZqE — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2745 · Master · advanced pawn, crushing, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks f3/g4; pawns a2/b3/e6/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/c5/d5/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3 — rook f3→h3. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g6→g5).
  3. Best move: Rxg5+ — rook g4→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxg5 (pawn f6→g5, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen d2→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
  5. Best move: Qe7 — queen g5→e7. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
  6. Best move: exf7 — pawn e6→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1q2r2/6kp/pn2Ppp1/1ppp1P2/6R1/1P3R2/P2Q2PP/6K1 b - - 0 31

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