Chess Puzzle #S7Cvv — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2455 · Master · advantage, exposed king, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks a1/f1; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e5/h2. Black: king f8; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishop g6; pawns a7/b7/c5/f5/f7/g3/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen g5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
  3. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh3 (bishop g2→h3, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qd2 — queen e3→d2. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
  5. Best move: Qxf2 — queen d2→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/pp1Q1pp1/6b1/2pPPpq1/2P5/2N3p1/PP4BP/R4RK1 w - - 0 18

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