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

Rating 2448 · Master · equality, exposed king, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks f1/g2; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/h5. Black: king h6; queen h4; rooks e6/f5; knight g6; pawns b7/c6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook e6→e1. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxf4 (rook f5→f4, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen c4→f4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen h4→f4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook f1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p5p/2p1r1nk/5r1P/2Q2P1q/8/PPP3R1/5RK1 b - - 2 33

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