Chess Puzzle #nS6zj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2364 · Expert · crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long, quiet move.

Position

White: king h2; rooks d8/f8; pawns c5/f5/g4/h3. Black: king h6; rooks a7/e4; bishop c6; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e4→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g7→g5).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook f8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
  4. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long, quiet move. The key move is h4.

Position data

FEN: 3R1R2/rp3pp1/p1b4k/2P2P2/4r1P1/7P/7K/8 b - - 0 36

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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