Chess Puzzle #QEzhW — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2695 · Master · attraction, crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/e1; bishops e3/g2; pawns a2/b4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen f5; rook c2; bishop g4; knights f6/g6; pawns a7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rac1 — rook a1→c1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook c2→g2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg2 (king g1→g2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nh4+ — knight g6→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
  4. Best move: Nf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  5. Best move: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qf8+ (queen f7→f8, gives check).
  6. Best move: Kh7 — king h8→h7.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p4Qp1/5nnp/5q2/1P4b1/4B1P1/P1r3BP/R3R1K1 w - - 4 23

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