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

Rating 1436 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rooks a6/d1; bishop h6; pawns b2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks e8/f2; bishop d4; pawns c5/d6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe1+ — queen e6→e1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1 — rook d1→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Be5+ (bishop d4→e5, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen g5→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook e1→e5, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  6. Best move: Rf8+ — rook a8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
  7. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f8→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Rxe1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/7p/R2pq1pB/2p3Q1/3b4/7P/1P3rP1/3R3K b - - 2 31

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