Chess Puzzle #J6Yod — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knights d2/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/g4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight f6→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg4 — queen d1→g4, captures knight. Opponent replies hxg4 (pawn h5→g4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook h8→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, opening, skewer. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp2pp1/2n1pn2/3p3p/3P2P1/3BP3/PPPN1PP1/R2QK1NR b KQkq - 0 8

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