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

Rating 1984 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook e4; bishops c2/e5; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2/h3. Black: king h7; queen c8; rook f8; bishop e6; knights d5/d8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g2/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop e6→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh4 — rook e4→h4. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h6→h5).
  3. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h4→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qg5 — queen d2→g5.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2qn1r2/pp3p1k/2p1b1pp/2PnB3/4R3/7P/PPBQ1Pp1/6K1 b - - 3 27

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