Chess Puzzle #KhP5u — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1887 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c4; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen c4→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e1→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king e8→e7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ba3+ — bishop c1→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  4. Best move: Qxf7 — queen h5→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2k2r/pp2b1pp/2p5/5P1Q/2qP4/2P5/P1P3PP/R1B1R1K1 b kq - 2 15

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