Chess Puzzle #bxK8g — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1984 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook h5; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g5. Black: king g7; queen f4; rook a8; knight d5; pawns a4/b4/c6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f4→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen e5→h8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h5→h8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/6k1/2p5/3nP1PR/pp3q2/3Q4/PP3P2/1K6 b - - 0 28

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