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

Rating 1472 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks h1/h5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e8/f5; pawns a5/b7/c7/d4/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2+ — rook f5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Kg1 — king g2→g1. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen f6→h8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1pp2pp1/5q2/p4r1R/3p4/P2P2P1/1PP2PK1/3Q3R b - - 0 26

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