Chess Puzzle #aH8nQ — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2762 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g3; queen e3; rook a5; bishop d4; pawns b4/c3/e5/f6/h3. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/c6; pawns a6/e4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6 — queen e3→h6. Opponent replies Rxc3+ (rook c6→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh4 — king g3→h4. Opponent replies Rxh3+ (rook c3→h3, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxh3 — king h4→h3, captures rook. Opponent replies Rc3+ (rook c8→c3, gives check).
  5. Best move: Be3 — bishop d4→e3. Opponent replies Rxe3+ (rook c3→e3, captures bishop, gives check).
  6. Best move: Qxe3 — queen h6→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5p1p/p1r2Pp1/R3P3/1P1Bp3/2P1Q1KP/2q5/8 b - - 2 33

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