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

Rating 1780 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king f3; rook h1; bishop d4; pawns a5/c2/c3/f4/g4. Black: king g6; rook b7; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/f6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh7 — rook b7→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: f5+ — pawn f4→f5, gives check. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e6→f5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: gxf5+ — pawn g4→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g6→g7).
  4. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Ke4 — king f3→e4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move gxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1r6/p3ppk1/Pp1n4/2pB1PP1/2P2K2/2P5/7R b - - 6 43

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