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

Rating 2295 · Expert · crushing, exposed king, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook e7; bishop g3; pawns c2/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook f8; bishop g6; knight g7; pawns a7/c5/d4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen b6→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Be5 — bishop g3→e5. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen f6→g5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook e7→g7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3R1n1/1q4b1/2p3Q1/3p3P/5PB1/2P3P1/6K1 b - - 4 36

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