Chess Puzzle #YGu8K — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1977 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks g3/h2; pawns a2/c3/e5/f2/g4. Black: king g8; queen f3; rook a8; bishop a4; knight g7; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen d2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  4. Best move: Rxf3 — rook g3→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook a8→d8).
  5. Best move: Rxc3 — rook f3→c3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Rh8+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp4n1/4p1p1/4P3/b2p2P1/2P2qR1/P2Q1P1R/2K5 b - - 1 23

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