Chess Puzzle #WaEUd — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2735 · Master · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; knight e7; pawns a2/c4/d3/f2/f4/h2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks a8/f8; pawns a7/d4/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight e7→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rg8+ — rook f8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g2→f1).
  3. Best move: Qxh2 — queen h5→h2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight d5→f6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Rg2 — rook g8→g2.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move is Rg8+.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p3Np1p/5p2/7q/2Pp1P2/3P4/P1Q2PKP/R3R3 w - - 0 23

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