Chess Puzzle #O2uud — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2612 · Master · crushing, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks e3/f1; bishop d1; knight f5; pawns d5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks b8/f8; knights f4/h7; pawns b5/c4/d6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg3 — rook e3→g3. Opponent replies Ng6 (knight f4→g6).
  3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight g6→e7, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rh3 — rook g3→h3. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
  5. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/5ppn/3p4/1pqPpN2/2p1Pn1Q/4R3/5PP1/3B1RK1 b - - 5 33

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