Chess Puzzle #ieekR — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2301 · Expert · attraction, crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f2; queen e1; rooks a1/g3; knights e2/f3; pawns a4/b4/c3/d3/e4. Black: king c8; queen h2; rooks f8/h8; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg2 — rook g3→g2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook f8→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king f2→f3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook h8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f3→e3).
  4. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h2→h6, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r1r/pp6/n1pp4/4p3/PP2P3/2PP1NR1/4NK1q/R3Q3 w - - 6 25

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