Chess Puzzle #UpEHH — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2200 · Expert · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer.

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/h3; pawns a6/b3/c2/d3/e4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen d6; rooks d8/f8; bishops b5/e7; pawns a7/b4/c5/d4/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra5 — rook a1→a5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf1 (king g1→f1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bd7 — bishop b5→d7. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen e6→d6, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Bxh3+ — bishop d7→h3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Rxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/p3b1pp/P2qQ3/1bp1p3/1p1pP3/1P1P2PB/1BP4P/R4RK1 w - - 6 24

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