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

Rating 2651 · Master · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks b5/c1; knight f3; pawns a3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a7; rooks a8/c8; bishop c5; pawns a5/f6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf2 — bishop c5→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rb7 — rook b5→b7. Opponent replies Rc1+ (rook c8→c1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Ng1 — knight f3→g1. Opponent replies Rxg1+ (rook c1→g1, captures knight, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Bg3+ (bishop f2→g3, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kxg3 — king h2→g3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen a7→e3, gives check).
  7. Best move: Kh2 — king g3→h2.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/q4ppp/5p2/pRbQ4/8/P4N1P/5PP1/2R4K b - - 3 27

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