Chess Puzzle #pVi3K — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2364 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, quiet move, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king g3; queen g5; rook b1; pawns c3/d4/e5/f6/g4. Black: king f7; queen d7; rook b7; bishop e6; pawns a5/b3/c4/d5/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook b7→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rh1 — rook b1→h1. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook b8→g8).
  3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  4. Best move: Rxd7 — rook h7→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e8→d7, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qc1 — queen g5→c1.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, quiet move, skewer, very long. The key move is Rh1.

Position data

FEN: 8/1r1q1k2/4bPp1/p2pP1Q1/2pP2P1/1pP3K1/8/1R6 b - - 2 36

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