Chess Puzzle #OGW6E — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2010 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks e1/f1; pawns a5/b4/e5/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re3 — rook e1→e3. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
  3. Best move: Rh3 — rook e3→h3. Opponent replies Qxh3 (queen h4→h3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d3→h3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/ppb5/2p5/P2pPp2/1P5q/3Q4/7P/4RR1K b - - 0 26

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