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

Rating 1732 · Advanced · advantage, deflection, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks e1/h3; bishop d2; pawns b2/b4/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks e8/f8; bishops e7/h7; pawns a6/b5/d6/f6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd8 — bishop e7→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h3→h7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen d7→h7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/3qb2b/p2p1pQ1/1p6/1P1P4/2P4R/1P1B2PP/4R1K1 b - - 4 27

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