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

Rating 1998 · Advanced · advantage, fork, interference, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen e6; rooks a1/f7; bishop c1; knight c4; pawns a2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/c5; pawns a7/b6/d7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook h8→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook f7→d7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen d8→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bf4+ — bishop c1→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king c7→c8).
  4. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen e6→g8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, interference, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q3r/pbkp1R2/1p2Q2p/2b5/2N5/2P5/P5PP/R1B4K b - - 0 20

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