Chess Puzzle #K9KOj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2326 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks f3/g6; bishop d3; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f7; bishop d7; knight f8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen e7→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7 — queen h5→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen b4→e1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Bf1 — bishop d3→f1.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4n1k/1p1bqrp1/p3p1Rp/3pPp1Q/3P1P1N/3B1R2/PP4PP/6K1 b - - 0 21

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