Chess Puzzle #oZKe8 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1923 · Advanced · advantage, deflection, endgame, fork, very long.

Position

White: king g2; rook c6; knight b5; pawns a2/b3/e3/e5/f4/h3. Black: king f7; rooks d7/h4; knight h1; pawns a5/b6/e7/f5/g4/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxh3 — rook h4→h3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: e6+ — pawn e5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
  4. Best move: Nc7+ — knight b5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  5. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook c8→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/3rpk1p/1pR5/pN2Pp2/5Ppr/1P2P2P/P5K1/7n b - - 1 40

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