Chess Puzzle #VezXo — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2279 · Expert · attraction, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks g1/g4; pawns a4/b3/c2/d4/e5/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/c8; knight f5; pawns a5/c3/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen h6→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g4→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg7 (knight f5→g7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g1→g7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f3→f6, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/6p1/4p2q/p2pPn2/P2P2R1/1Pp2Q1P/2P2P2/6RK b - - 6 32

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