Chess Puzzle #Lm2Ko — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rooks c3/c7; pawns f4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen a1; rooks a8/g7; bishop e4; pawns a7/d5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook a8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8 — rook c7→c8. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h7→h5).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen f6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Bh7 (bishop e4→h7).
  4. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook c8→g8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg8 (rook g7→g8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qf6+ — queen h6→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
  6. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c3→c8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Rxg8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6k/p1R2prp/5Q2/3p4/4bP2/2R4P/6PK/q7 b - - 0 26

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