Chess Puzzle #T3Md5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1848 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, intermezzo, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks f1/h6; pawns c2/f3/f6/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a2/b8; pawns a5/c6/c7/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen c3→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7 — rook h6→h7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qg2+ (queen c2→g2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxg2 — queen h3→g2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg2 (rook a2→g2, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rg7+ — rook h7→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  5. Best move: Kxg2 — king h1→g2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, very long. The key move Rxh7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/2p2p1p/2p2PpR/p2p2P1/8/2q2P1Q/r1P4P/5R1K b - - 3 36

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