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

Rating 2422 · Master · advantage, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d1; rooks g1/h1; knights c3/d4; pawns a3/b2/c2/e3. Black: king g7; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c5; knights g5/h7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf6 — king g7→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh7 — rook h1→h7, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxh7 (knight g5→h7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe1 — queen d1→e1.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxh7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/pp3pkn/4p3/q1bp2n1/3N4/P1N1P3/1PP5/2KQ2RR b - - 1 21

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