Chess Puzzle #M6Yav — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1423 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, quiet move, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks d3/f1; pawns a2/c2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh3 — rook d3→h3. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  4. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  5. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook h7→e7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, quiet move, skewer, very long. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p2qp2/p3p1pQ/3p4/6P1/3R4/P1P4P/5R1K b - - 0 23

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