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

Rating 1536 · Intermediate · equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks e1/e2; knight h4; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishop d5; knight c4; pawns a6/b5/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e2→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen f7→e8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen d4→d5, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p2qp1/p6p/1p1b4/2nQ3N/2P5/P3RPPP/4R1K1 b - - 5 19

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