Chess Puzzle #QoAhx — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1804 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, trapped piece, very long.

Position

White: king f3; queen c3; rooks a1/g1; bishop b2; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f4. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop b6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1 — rook g1→h1. Opponent replies Qxh1+ (queen h4→h1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxh1 — rook a1→h1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe3+ (rook e8→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxe3 — queen c3→e3, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe3 (bishop b6→e3, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Kxe3 — king f3→e3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, trapped piece, very long. The key move is Rh1.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pp3p1/1b1p1p2/p7/2P2P1q/1PQ1PK2/PB6/R5R1 b - - 1 25

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