Chess Puzzle #ohZ3P — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2146 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook f1; bishops d2/h5; pawns a5/d5/g5/h2. Black: king h7; queen e4; rook a7; bishop g7; knight f8; pawns c5/c7/d6/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h7→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop g7→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bg4 — bishop h5→g4. Opponent replies c6 (pawn c7→c6).
  4. Best move: Be6+ — bishop g4→e6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5n2/r1p3bk/3p2p1/P1pPp1PB/4q3/7Q/3B3P/5RK1 b - - 0 35

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