Chess Puzzle #ROiAh — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2228 · Expert · crushing, deflection, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rooks d1/d2; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a2/c5. Black: king a8; queen e6; rooks g8/h6; pawns a6/b7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nh2 — knight f3→h2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h6→h2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh2 (queen f2→h2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen e6→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Bf3 (bishop e2→f3).
  4. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen e4→f3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rg2 (rook d2→g2).
  5. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen f3→d1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k5r1/1p6/p3q2r/2P5/8/5N2/P2RBQ2/3R3K w - - 2 45

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