Chess Puzzle #J2oUN — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2566 · Master · crushing, defensive move, master, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks h1/h4; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/e3/f6/g2. Black: king g8; queen g3; rooks d8/f8; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh5 — rook h4→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxh5 — queen e2→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen g3→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen e3→e1, gives check).
  5. Best move: Bd1 — bishop c2→d1.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, master, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp3p2/2p2Pp1/2np3p/7R/4P1q1/PPB1Q1P1/2K4R b - - 0 26

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