Chess Puzzle #TsmcC — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2414 · Master · crushing, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c1; queen g2; rooks g1/h1; bishop f3; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishop d7; knights b5/f6; pawns a6/c4/c5/d6/e7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh1 — rook h8→h1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop d7→e6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g2→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxh1 — rook g1→h1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q3r/3bp1k1/p2p1np1/1npP2N1/2p1P3/2N2B2/PP4Q1/2K3RR b - - 1 21

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