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

Rating 1852 · Advanced · advantage, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rooks c2/g1; pawns a3/b6/f2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c5; rook c8; bishop f6; knight c4; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook c8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen g4→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Re1+ — rook g1→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
  4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/1p3p2/pP3b1p/2qp4/2n3Q1/P6P/2R2P2/6RK b - - 1 36

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