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

Rating 2234 · Expert · crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks d1/f1; bishop g5; knight e4; pawns a4/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight d5; pawns a6/b6/c5/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: fxg5 — pawn f6→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxf1 — king g1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qf8+ (queen d8→f8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rf5+ — rook d5→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  5. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f5→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/6bp/pp3pp1/2pn2B1/P1Q1N3/2P4P/1P4P1/3R1RK1 b - - 1 20

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